The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully conducted the third long-duration hot test on the Vikas Engine that would launch the ambitious Gaganyaan programme. On this occasion, American billionaire and entrepreneur Elon Musk congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through his tweet on Wednesday. Replying to the ISRO's tweet, Elon Musk, the founder of aerospace tech company SpaceX, wrote, "Congratulations."
#ISRO on July 14, 2021 has successfully conducted the hot test of the liquid propellant Vikas Engine for the core L110 liquid stage of the human rated GSLV MkIII vehicle, as part of engine qualification requirements for the #Gaganyaan Programme
— ISRO (@isro) July 14, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the official launch of the Gaganyaan programme during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2018. Being part of the Gaganyaan programme, four Indian astronaut candidates have successfully received general space flight training in Russia.
ISRO, in a declaration, said that it tested the liquid propellant Vikas Engine as part of the Gaganyaan program's engine testing standards. The test was undertaken for the core L110 liquid stage of the human-rated GSLV MkIII spacecraft.
At the Isro Propulsion Complex (IPRC) test facility in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, the engine was ignited for 240 seconds. The engine's functioning met the project objective, and the parameters were near to the estimates during the test, according to an official statement made by ISRO.