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ISRO Conducts Hot Tests of Gaganyaan’s SMPS at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

Science and Technology | Dated: 11 Jul 2025

In July 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted two short-duration hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), located in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu (TN). These hot tests lasted for 30 seconds and 100 seconds, respectively, and validated the propulsion system’s performance by meeting all test benchmarks.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) is an essential element of the Gaganyaan Orbital Module (OM), which is responsible for performing orbital manoeuvres and handling specific abort scenarios during the human spaceflight mission. It includes a combination of advanced thrusters to ensure mission safety and control.
  • - The SMPS incorporates five Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines and sixteen Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters. These are critical to providing the necessary thrust and directional control needed for orbital adjustments and in-orbit manoeuvring.
  • - The development and testing of the SMPS is spearheaded by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a major ISRO center headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. LPSC is responsible for the design, development, and qualification of all liquid propulsion systems used in India’s space missions.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) In the 100-second test, ISRO engineers successfully demonstrated the simultaneous firing of five LAM engines, producing 440 Newtons (N) of thrust, along with sixteen RCS thrusters, each generating 100 N of thrust. Both steady-state and pulsed modes of operation were validated during this critical trial.
  • (ii) The Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first human spaceflight program, is targeted for launch in 2027. It aims to send Indian astronauts (Gagannauts) into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using entirely indigenous technology, marking a major milestone in India’s space exploration journey.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which Indian organization recently conducted hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu?

Correct Answer: ISRO

🚀 Quick Recap:

About ISRO

  • Chairman : V. Narayanan
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru