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India Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Video: Skyroot tests retro engine of Vikram-1 that will trigger stage separation
Skyroot Aerospace has successfully completed the developmental tests of the Vikram-1 rocket's retro motors as it steps closer to India's first privately built orbital rocket Hyderabad-based startup announced that all six firings of these retro engines met their target thrust and differential delay specifications, ensuring a smooth and reliable separation of the rocket's first stage during retro motors, the smallest solid propulsion units on the Vikram-1, play a crucial role in the vehicle's multi-stage retro motors successfully completed the developmental tests! The smallest solid motors on the vehicle they're vital for clean separation of Stage 1. Six firings confirm they are hitting all target thrust and differential delay specs for a smooth jettison. Skyroot Aerospace (@SkyrootA) May 27, 2025advertisement During ascent, these motors fire to decelerate the spent first stage, enabling a clean jettison and minimizing the risk of collision or debris between stages. This stage separation is a critical maneuver in any multi-stage rocket, directly impacting mission reliability and the safety of payload recent tests, conducted as part of a broader series of qualification campaigns, included six successful static firings. Each test validated the motors' ability to deliver precise thrust and timing, both vital for ensuring that the first stage separates cleanly from the rest of the company emphasised that these results mark a major step forward in preparing the Vikram-1 for its maiden orbital flight, expected later this year."In that critical window, precision takes over: four jettison motors start firing in perfect sync within milliseconds, delivering nearly 10 tons of retro thrust for about a second to counter residual force and cleanly push Stage-1 toward Earth, avoiding collision with Stage-2. This precise maneuver minimizes the no-control zone, ensuring a smooth transition before Stage-2 ignites and takes command of the mission," Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace Vikram-1, designed to deliver up to 480 kg to low Earth orbit, features three solid propulsion stages and advanced systems for stage separation and trajectory control. With the retro motors now flight-proven, Skyroot is one step closer to joining the ranks of private companies capable of launching satellites into orbit—a landmark for India's burgeoning private space Watch
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Skyroot successfully tests stage separation system for Vikram-1 rocket
Hyderabad: As spacetech startup Skyroot Aerospace gears up for the launch of India's first privately built orbital rocket , Vikram-1, into low Earth orbit (LEO) later this year, the company achieved yet another milestone. It successfully tested the stage separation system of the rocket. As part of this, the Hyderabad-based startup tested the separation of stage 2 of the rocket from stage 3. "Clean separation, smooth execution! Our team just nailed the stage separation test of Vikram-1. The ultra-low shock pneumatic separation system we developed in-house worked like a charm, smoothly separating Stage 2 from Stage 3 – in another boost to our journey to orbit!" Skyroot Aerospace said on social media platform X. "Imagine separating two rocket stages in space within a few milliseconds – without generating a shock – pulling them apart by 1.2 metres with just a few cms of clearance between the nozzle and internal fuel tanks and propelling the separating stage with enough energy to reach the required jettisoning velocity within 0.2 seconds. This is what it takes to separate rocket stages in the deep vacuum of space – and we've now qualified our proprietary stage separation and jettisoning system for flight. Another critical milestone on the path to the launch of Vikram-1," Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace, announced on X. The latest test is part of the battery of tests conducted by Skyroot over the past couple of months in preparation for the launch of Vikram-1 later this year. These include the structural rigidity test of Kalam-1200, the carbon composite stage-1 motor that is touted as the longest monolithic motor casing developed in India using Skyroot's proprietary filament winding process. Kalam-1200 will propel Vikram-1 from the ground through the Earth's atmosphere. The startup also tested Raman 50N mini thrusters that will be integrated into Vikram-1's orbital adjustment module and provide pitch and yaw control during flight. Earlier in May this year, Skyroot also qualified Vikram-1's interstages, which are four load-bearing structures that will house the avionics, separation systems, and critical sensors and will play a key role in maintaining the structural integrity of the rocket throughout its ascent into orbit. In April this year, Skyroot also ran pre-flight tests on the mission computer of the launch vehicle as well as the composite nozzle and flex nozzle control system of Kalam-1200, the first stage of the rocket.
Hans India
19-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
ISRO mission fails as PSLV suffers third-stage anomaly
New Delhi: In a rare failure, India's main rocket PSLV developed problems a few minutes after take-off and failed to place earth observation satellite EOS-09 into the intended orbit in an early morning launch on Sunday. In a short statement, ISRO said the problem was observed in the third stage but did not give any details. 'Today's 101st launch was attempted. PSLV-C61 performance was normal till second stage. Due to an observation in the third stage, the mission could not be accomplished,' ISRO said. This was the 101st mission launched by ISRO, and the 63rd one using the PSLV rocket, which is the most successful launch vehicle developed by India's space agency. PSLV has failed on only two earlier occasions, the first time during its inaugural flight in 1993 and then in 2017 when the C-39 mission had been unsuccessful. 'Heartbreaking to see a failure in PSLV today. I still remember my time at ISRO and how shaken we were when PSLV-C39 failed in 2017 after more than two decades of successful flights. It's a powerful reminder of how complex and unforgiving spaceflight can be, even for proven workhorses like PSLV,' said Pawan Kumar Chandana of Skyroot, a private space company that is developing its own launch vehicles.
