Vikas (rocket engine)

The Vikas is a liquid fueled rocket engine built by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was developed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Center during the 1970s. It is used in the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) series of expendable launch vehicles for space launch use.

The engine is used as the second stage of both the PSLV and the GSLV launch vehicles, with four strap-on boosters. The engine is also capable of gimballing. The GSLV MK-3 rocket uses two Vikas engines in its L110 core stage. The propellant loading for GSLV Mk-3 vikas engines is 55 tons compared to 40 tons for regular GSLV Mk-2 and PSLV rockets.

Technical details

The engine uses up about 40 metric tons of UDMH as fuel and Nitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) as oxidizer with a maximum thrust of 725 kN. An up-graded version of the engine has a chamber pressure of 58.5 bar as compared to 52.5 bar in the older version and produces a thrust of 800 kN.