CE-20

CE-20

A computer model of CE-20
Country of origin	India
First flight	June 5, 2017
Designer	LPSC, ISRO
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [1]
Application	Upper stage booster
Status	Active
Liquid-fuel engine
Propellant	LOX / LH2
Mixture ratio	5.05
Cycle	Gas Generator
Configuration
Chamber	1
Nozzle ratio	100
Performance
Thrust, vacuum	186.36 kN (41,900 lbf)
Throttle range	180–220 kN (40,000–49,000 lbf)
Chamber pressure	6 MPa (870 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum	442 seconds (4.33 km/s)
Burn time	640-800 seconds
Dimensions
Dry mass	588 kg (1,296 lb)
Used in
Upper stage of LVM3 & NGLV
References
References	[2] [3] [4]

The CE-20 is a cryogenic rocket engine developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), a subsidiary of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It has been developed to power the upper stage of the LVM3. ^[5] It is the first Indian cryogenic engine to feature a gas-generator cycle. ^[6] The high thrust cryogenic engine is the most powerful upper stage cryogenic engine in operational service. ^[7]

Among the thrust levels for which CE-20 is qualified are 19 tonnes for ongoing satellite missions, 20 tonnes for the Gaganyaan, and an upgraded 22 tonnes for future launches like the Bharatiya Antariksha Station's BAS-01 Base Module. ^{[8] [9]}

Overview

The CE-20 is the first Indian cryogenic engine to feature a gas-generator cycle. ^[10] The engine produces a nominal thrust of 200 kN, but has an operating thrust range between 180 kN to 220 kN and can be set to any fixed values between these limits. The combustion chamber burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at 6 MPa with 5.05 engine mixture ratio. ^{[3] [4]} The engine has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 34.7 and a specific impulse of 442 seconds (4.33 km/s) in vacuum. ^[2]

Development and Testing

CE-20 during static testing at Cryo Main Engine and Static Test facility (CMEST) of ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri on 19 February 2016

• On 28 April 2015, CE-20 cleared a 635 seconds long duration hot test at IPRC, Mahendragiri test facility. This test was preceded by two cold start tests and four short duration hot tests. ^[11]
• On 16 July 2015, the first developmental CE-20 engine 'E1' was successfully endurance hot tested at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri for a duration of 800 seconds with Mixture Ratio Controller (MRC) in closed loop mode. This duration is approximately 25% more than the engine burn duration in flight. This was tenth development test for CE-20 ^[12]
• On 10 August 2015, a short duration (5.7 seconds) hot test on the CE-20 engine was done to demonstrate the successful engine ignition with tank pressure conditions as in flight. ^[13]
• On 19 February 2016, the second developmental CE-20 engine 'E2' ^[14] was hot-tested for a duration of 640 seconds with Mixture Ratio Controller (MRC) in closed loop mode at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. ^{[15] [16] [17]}
• On 03 December 2016, flight acceptance test of 25 seconds in high altitude conditions was carried out on third developmental CE-20 engine (E3). ^{[18] [19] [20]} It was successfully flown on the first developmental flight 'D1' of the GSLV Mk-III on 5 June 2017. ^[21]
• On 25 January 2017, CE-20 engine E2 ^[20] integrated with development stage for GSLV Mk III, C25 'D' was tested for duration of 50 seconds. ^[22]
• On 17 February 2017, CE-20 engine E2 ^[20] integrated with development stage for GSLV Mk III, C25 'D' was tested for duration of 640 seconds. ^[23]
• On 11 October 2018, CE-20 engine E6 completed 25 second long flight acceptance test in high altitude conditions for GSLV Mk III M1/Chandrayaan-2 mission ^[24]
• On 16 December 2021, CE-20 (E9 engine) was tested to demonstrate the repeatability of engine ignition with stable combustion. Two ignition trial tests of 3.2 seconds duration were conducted nominally followed by a nominal hot test of 50 seconds duration. ^[25]
• On 12 January 2022, CE-20 engine E9 completed 720 second long qualification test for Gaganyaan programme. ^[26]
• On 29 October 2022, CE-20 engine E11 ^[27] completed flight acceptance hot test for 25 seconds. Test was conducted to check the integrity of hardware, subsystems' performance and tuning the engine for LVM 3 M3 mission. ^[28]
• On 9 November 2022, CE-20 engine E9 was hot tested for 70 seconds. During this test the engine operated at thrust level of approximately 20 tonnes for the first 40 seconds and then switched to an uprated thrust regime of 21.8 tonnes lasting ~30 seconds. This uprated engine would increase payload capacity of LVM3 to GTO by up to 450 kg along an appropriate stage with additional propellant loading. As part of engine modification, Thrust Control Valve (TCV), 3D-printed LOX and LH2 turbine, and exhaust casings were introduced for the first time. ^[29]
• On 23 December 2022, CE-20 engine E9 was hot tested for 650 second duration. For the first 40 seconds of test, the engine was operated at 20.2 tonne thrust level, after this engine was operated at 20 tonne off-nominal zones and then for 435 seconds it was operated at 22.2 tonne thrust level. With this test, the 'E9' engine has been qualified for induction in flight. The E9 engine with this hot test has undergone twelve hot tests with 3370 seconds cumulative burn duration at different thrust & mixture ratio levels. ^[30]
• On 24 February 2023, CE-20 engine went through flight acceptance testing for LVM3-M4/Chandrayaan-3 successfully. The test was done at High Altitude Test Facility and lasted for of nominal 25 seconds duration. ^{[31] [32]}

CE20 Hot Tests for the Gaganyaan and 22t Thrust Qualification

• On 9 August 2023, CE-20 engine E13 successfully operated with uprated thrust level of 22t for a nominal duration of 50 seconds. This hot test (HT-01) was aimed at engine tuning. ^[33]
• On 30 August 2023, CE-20 engine E13 conducted second hot test (HT-02) to demonstrate the engine's reliability and stability for a long duration of 720 seconds with a thrust level of 19.7t. ^[33]
• On 22 September 2023, CE-20 engine E13 successfully conducted for a long duration of 670 seconds with an uprated thrust level of 22t. With this third hot test (HT-03), qualification activities of the CE-20 engine for the Gaganyaan program were successfully completed. ^{[34] [35]}
• On 9 October 2023, CE-20 engine E13 underwent fourth hot test (HT-04), to demonstrate engine operation in off-nominal conditions. It was conducted nominally for a duration of 125 seconds. With this test, the CE-20 engine was qualified for operation at 22t thrust level during flight. ^{[36] [37]}
• On 19 October 2023, flight acceptance testing of CE-20 engine E12 was successfully completed for a duration of 25 seconds. This engine is assigned for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission HLVM3-GX. ^[37]
• On 8 November 2023, CE-20 engine E13 underwent fifth hot test (HT-05) for evaluating the off-nominal operation of the engine. Test was successfully conducted for the duration of 140 second at MET facility, IPRC, Mahendragiri and qualified the CE20 engine for operating at 22t thrust level during flight. ^[38]
• On 5 January 2024, CE-20 engine E13 underwent sixth hot test (HT-06). This vacuum ignition test was conducted for a duration of 2.5 seconds in High Altitude Test condition at Thrust chamber test facility of IPRC. ^[39]
• On 13 February 2024, CE-20 engine identified for the first uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 mission passed flight acceptance after a series of ground qualification tests. With this, human rating of CE-20 cryogenic engine for the Gaganyaan Programme was completed. ^[40]
• On 29 November 2024, ISRO carried out a sea-level hot test for the CE-20, which has a nozzle protection system and a high-area nozzle ratio of 100. A multi-element igniter's capacity for engine restart was proven. While keeping an eye on the health condition of the other two parts, ISRO activated the first element of a multi-element igniter. All necessary performance requirements were met. ^{[8] [41]}
• On February 7, 2025, ISRO successfully carried out the ignition trial of the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine powering the upper stage of LVM3, with a Multi-element igniter under vacuum conditions.It was conducted at the High Altitude Test Facility of ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. ^[42]

Manufacturing

The CE-20 cryogenic engine is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at its Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICEMF) in New Tippasandra, a suburb of Bengaluru. ^[43]

Variants

• CE-20[U] is the upgraded version of CE-20 with more thrust and performance. It also has restarting capabilities in space. It is planned to used on LVM3-SC. ^[44]

See also

• India portal
• Rocketry portal
• Spaceflight portal

• CE-7.5
• LVM 3
• GSAT-14

References

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3. "LPSC Handouts at Aer India-2009". Specifications of CE-20. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
4. "Aero India 2009, LPSC specification sheet :: IMG_0159". Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
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6. K. S. Jayaram (22 February 2016). "India's heavy-lift rocket on track for December debut following engine test". Spacenews.
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38. "Monthly Summary of Department of space for the month of November 2023" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2024. The fifth hot test on the CE20- E13 engine, planned for demonstrating the offnominal operation of the engine (20t-5% Pc & 20t-5% MR and 22t-5%Pc & 22t-5% MR), was successfully conducted for 140s duration on November 8, 2023 at MET facility, IPRC, Mahendragiri. With this test, the CE20 engine is qualified for operating at 22t thrust level in flight
39. "Monthly Summary of Department of space for the month of January, 2024" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2024. Vacuum ignition test of CE-20 E13 cryogenic engine HT-6 successfully conducted for a duration of 2.5 seconds in High Altitude Test condition at Thrust chamber test facility at IPRC on January 5, 2024.
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44. "ISRO's LVM3 rocket is on the verge of a big transformation, where its core stage & upper stage will be replaced by new stages". X (Formerly Twitter). Retrieved 8 August 2024.

External links

• India test-fires indigenous cryo engine for 800 seconds
• LPSC handouts during Aero India-2009 with Ce-20 specifications
• LPSC handouts during Aero India-2009 with specifications of all Liquid-fueled engines of India
• Status of CE-20 in Space Transportation/GSLV - Mk III of ISRO's 2008-09 Annual Report
• ISRO upbeat as indigenous cryo engine passes test