The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed a flight acceptance hot test of its CE20 cryogenic engine at an uprated thrust level of 220 kN, marking progress towards increasing the payload capacity of the LVM3 launch vehicle and supporting the Gaganyaan programme.
The test was conducted on September 9, 2026, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The engine is earmarked for the C32 upper stage of an upcoming LVM3 mission.
During the test, ISRO also successfully demonstrated the performance of the LOX Tank Pressurisation Module (LTPM), which is intended for use with the C32 stages of the Gaganyaan missions.
The CE20 engine powers the upper cryogenic stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle. ISRO is working towards operating future LVM3 missions with an uprated C32 stage, using the CE20 engine at a thrust level of 22 tonnes, to improve the vehicle’s payload capability.
Earlier sea-level hot test
The latest flight acceptance test follows a sea-level hot test of the CE20 engine conducted in March at the Mahendragiri facility at the 22-tonne thrust level. That test used a Nozzle Protection System and a multi-element igniter.
The March exercise was intended to qualify the engine for sea-level testing at the higher thrust level. ISRO had said that both the engine and the test facility performed as expected during the 165-second test.
Sea-level testing of the CE20 is challenging because its high-area-ratio nozzle has a low exit pressure. Flow separation within the nozzle can lead to severe vibrations and thermal stresses, which may affect the structural integrity of the nozzle.
The successful flight acceptance test is another step towards operationalising the uprated C32 stage for upcoming LVM3 missions.
EOS-05 mission
The development follows ISRO’s successful launch of the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite-05 (EOS-05) aboard the GSLV-F17 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on September 5.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan described that mission as a significant achievement after the 2,367-kg satellite was placed in its intended orbit. He said the satellite would become India’s first dedicated imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit once operationalised.
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