ISRO Successfully Restarts Vikas Engine at Chennai Propulsion Complex

On January 17, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully demonstrated the restart capability of its Vikas liquid engine at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri. The Vikas engine, a vital component powering the liquid stages of ISRO's launch vehicles, underwent a test where it was ignited for 60 seconds, followed by a 120-second shutdown, and then restarted for an additional 7 seconds. All engine parameters during the test were normal and met expectations.

This successful demonstration marks a significant milestone in ISRO's pursuit of reusable launch vehicle technologies. The ability to restart liquid engines is crucial for the recovery and reuse of rocket stages, potentially reducing the cost of access to space. A series of tests are being conducted to validate the engine's restart capabilities under various conditions. Notably, a prior test in December 2024 involved a shorter shutdown period of 42 seconds, followed by a 7-second restart, which was also successful.

In addition to the engine restart test, ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan flagged off the core liquid stage (L110) of the LVM3 launch vehicle to the launch complex at Sriharikota. This stage, powered by twin Vikas engines with a propellant loading of 110 tonnes, is designated for the LVM3 mission under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile & Science, LLC to launch their BlueBird Block 2 satellite.

These developments underscore ISRO's commitment to advancing its launch capabilities and achieving technological self-reliance in space exploration.