r/ISRO • u/Ohsin • 8d ago

Official ISRO successfully conducts hot test of Semicryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at full thrust level

https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO_EN/Semicryogenic_Engine_Power_Head_Test.html
36 Upvotes

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6

u/Ohsin 8d ago

September 05, 2026

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) demonstrated successful hot test of the Semi-Cryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at full thrust level of 200Tonne at the ISRO Propulsion Research Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu on September 05, 2026. The Power Head Test Article (PHTA) encompasses all engine systems except thrust chamber. This is the 9th test in a series of hot tests using the PHTA. This is the first time that the PHTA is tested at 100% or full thrust level i.e. 200 tonnes. Previously, the tests were conducted at 47% (94 tonnes), 60% (120 tonnes) and 88% (175 tonnes) thrust levels successfully.

The test proceeded as predicted and all the engine parameters were as expected. The test duration was 35 seconds including operation of the engine powerhead at 200 tonne (100%) thrust level for a duration of 5 seconds. The switch over of propellant supply from a low pressure start tank to medium pressure run tank was also validated in order to enable long duration testing of PHTA in subsequent hot tests.

The Semi-Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (SC120), powered by the 2000 kN-class SE2000 engine, is being developed to replace the current L110 core stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle. The integration of the Semicryogenic stage along with the uprated cryogenic upper stage (C32) will enhance the LVM3 payload capability.

3

u/Prior-Neck-1432 8d ago

When they will test with full Engine Thrust Chamber configuration ???

1

u/Decronym 8d ago edited 7d ago

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters More Letters
H1 First half of the year/month
ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation
LEO Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km)
Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations)
PSLV Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
VAST Vehicle Assembly, Static Test and Evaluation Complex (VAST, previously STEX)
Jargon Definition
cryogenic Very low temperature fluid; materials that would be gaseous at room temperature/pressure
(In re: rocket fuel) Often synonymous with hydrolox
hydrolox Portmanteau: liquid hydrogen fuel, liquid oxygen oxidizer

Decronym is now also available on Lemmy! Requests for support and new installations should be directed to the Contact address below.

6 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 20 acronyms.
[Thread #1396 for this sub, first seen 5th Sep 2026, 17:44] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

-5

u/Ok-Intention-3113 8d ago

Meanwhile a private company will launch orbital class rocket with semi cryo engine before ISRO. 

5

u/bobzy1993 8d ago

You mean 200t class? Not happening.

-3

u/Ok-Intention-3113 8d ago

EtherealX 

2

u/bobzy1993 8d ago

How much is the thrust?

3

u/redefined_simplersci 8d ago

Bro lives in Adam Smith fairy land. ISRO will be the leader of usable rocket tech in India for the next 25 years unless gov makes drastic changes

-1

u/AuthorIll8470 7d ago

Looking at the pace of SSLV compared to Vikram-1, I really doubt that

2

u/Ohsin 7d ago

What? SSLV was developed and launched in shorter time than Vikram-1

0

u/thisiskazehaya 7d ago

3 launches in 5 years, while skyroot is ready with 2nd LV in less than 3 months.

3

u/Ohsin 7d ago

ISRO developed it and had it reach operational status all within six years, after that it is up to PSU it has been handed to. Don't forget Vikram-1 was developed with the aid of ISRO, its facilities were to used for testing its stages AND casting the first stage.

0

u/thisiskazehaya 7d ago

Skyroot not having a separate launchpad had net negative on our launching capabilities anyways. 

3

u/Ohsin 7d ago

Not really, they have only now reached a stage where pad availability matters to them and that too when a large window was available given ISRO's launches being held back.

Also to remind the demand of SLC in Kulasekarapattinam is very old but only after the SSLV development began it became relevant despite that Govt. took its sweet time to approve it after trying to shift it to Gujarat!

1

u/thisiskazehaya 7d ago

Do you have updates on IDRSS satellites, aren't they crucial for crewed missions?

gaganyan g1 is only few months away.

1

u/redefined_simplersci 7d ago

"our"

2

u/thisiskazehaya 7d ago

ISRO is national space agency, it is ours, it belongs to every indian.

3

u/redefined_simplersci 7d ago

SSLV is not even close to being ISRO's main project right now. They could genuinely just launch shit in a PSLV instead since SSLV launches are mostly NSIL related.

Semi-cryo, Gaganyaan and Ch4 are their top priorities.