ISRO's New Rocket Might Literally Breathe Oxygen To Fuel Itself!

ISRO

It's been less than 48 hours to the launching of their reusable launch vehicle demonstrator, and ISRO is already breaking new ground - they're planning to test an "air-breathing propulsion system, which aims to capitalise on the oxygen in the atmosphere".

Air oxygen to fuel ISRO

SpaceX

This technology aims to take oxygen from the atmosphere instead of carrying it all the way, K. Sivan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre told The Hindu. This can replace the need for carrying liquefied oxygen on flights. “The mission to test the technology would be launched either in the last week of June or early July from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. The mission would be on a sounding rocket,” K. Sivan, Director of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre told The Hindu.

Launch vehicles achieve fuel combustion using liquified oxygen, but this air-breathing propulsion system is trying to tap into oxygen found 50 km from the earth’s surface to burn rocket fuel.

Reducing lift-off mass

ISRO

“This system, when implemented, would help in reducing the lift-off mass of the vehicle since liquefied oxygen need not be carried on board the vehicle. This would also help increasing the efficiency of the rocket and also make it cost-effective,” Mr. Sivan said. “This is like satellites making use of solar power. Likewise, this technology aims to take oxygen from the atmosphere instead of carrying it all the way,” he explained.