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Propulsion & Power

ISRO hot-tests uprated CE20 engine for LVM3 mission

By SpaceEnergy 11 September 2026 1 min read
ISRO hot-tests uprated CE20 engine for LVM3 mission
Credit: ISRO

(SpaceEnergy) ISRO has successfully hot-tested the CE20 cryogenic engine assigned to its seventh operational LVM3 mission at an uprated 22-tonne thrust level planned for future launches.

The flight-acceptance firing was conducted on 9 September at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri. ISRO said the engine met all test objectives and demonstrated satisfactory system performance.

The CE20 powers LVM3’s cryogenic upper stage. ISRO normally acceptance-tests each flight engine before integration, but this firing also exercised the higher thrust level intended for future C32 stages as part of efforts to increase LVM3 payload capability.

During the same test, ISRO successfully demonstrated a liquid-oxygen tank pressurisation module intended for C32 stages used by the Gaganyaan programme.

The cryogenic engine was tested at sea level using a previously qualified nozzle protection system that allows its high-altitude nozzle to operate under conditions simulating flight-equivalent vacuum performance. ISRO said the system reduces the time and effort required for acceptance testing.

The engine will now be refurbished and assembled into the C32 flight stage for the LVM3 M7 mission, which ISRO schedules for the fourth quarter of 2026.

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