India, Flight testing of the Cryogenic Stage not successful

Originally Posted by LesAdieux

press release from Indian Space Research Organisation



india develops its cryogenic engine from the russian KVD-1, which was recycled from russia's aborted lunar mission, anyone knows when did russia first test its own cryogenic engine? I've googled quite a while, can't find it, thx.

I'm not familiar with Russian history. However, I am familiar with American and Chinese histories. For anyone that's interested, I will answer your question regarding the first cryogenic engine for the United States and China.

To place the development of cryogenic rocket engines in its proper historical context, I thought you might want to know that NASA developed the world's first cryo engine in 1961 and China flight-tested her first cryo engine in 1984 (i.e. 26 years ago).

Cryogenic rocket engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The first operational cryogenic rocket engine was the 1961 NASA design the RL-10 LOX LH2 rocket engine, which was used in the Saturn 1 rocket employed in the early stages of the Apollo moon landing program."

YF-73 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The YF-73 is China's first successful, cryogenic, gimballed engine, using liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) oxidizer. It was developed in the early 1980s and first flight was in 1984."

Originally Posted by LesAdieux

press release from Indian Space Research Organisation



india develops its cryogenic engine from the russian KVD-1, which was recycled from russia's aborted lunar mission, anyone knows when did russia first test its own cryogenic engine? I've googled quite a while, can't find it, thx.

I spent a few minutes to research your question regarding the first Russian cryogenic engine. I believe the answer is between 1965-1972.

ISRO's Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) - a knol by Vijainder K Thakur

"Transfer of Technology (TOT) from Russia

In 1991 ISRO entered into a $120 million contract with Glavkosmos of Russia for the supply of two KVD-1 cryogenic engines and the complete transfer of technology for those engines.

The KVD-1 is the one and only oxygen/hydrogen liquid-propellant rocket engine in Russia known to have passed through full-scale ground testing routine. KVD-1's prototype known as 11D56 was developed between 1965-1972 by the Design Bureau of Chemical Machine-Building ( KB Khimmash) for the fourth stage of a future version of heavy Lunar N-1 launch vehicle. Bench trials of the engine commenced in 1966.

The KVD-1 engine is a single-chambered unit with a turbopump system designed to feed propellants; and includes afterburning: a feature characteristic of any powerful Russian liquid-propellant rocket engine design.

The engine can be used in cryogenic upper stages designed to put payloads into high-altitude elliptical, geostationary orbits or escape trajectories."

Originally Posted by Martian

I spent a few minutes to research your question regarding the first Russian cryogenic engine. I believe the answer is between 1965-1972.

ISRO's Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) - a knol by Vijainder K Thakur

"Transfer of Technology (TOT) from Russia

In 1991 ISRO entered into a $120 million contract with Glavkosmos of Russia for the supply of two KVD-1 cryogenic engines and the complete transfer of technology for those engines.

The KVD-1 is the one and only oxygen/hydrogen liquid-propellant rocket engine in Russia known to have passed through full-scale ground testing routine. KVD-1's prototype known as 11D56 was developed between 1965-1972 by the Design Bureau of Chemical Machine-Building ( KB Khimmash) for the fourth stage of a future version of heavy Lunar N-1 launch vehicle. Bench trials of the engine commenced in 1966.

The KVD-1 engine is a single-chambered unit with a turbopump system designed to feed propellants; and includes afterburning: a feature characteristic of any powerful Russian liquid-propellant rocket engine design.

The engine can be used in cryogenic upper stages designed to put payloads into high-altitude elliptical, geostationary orbits or escape trajectories."

Here is confirmation that Russia's first cryogenic engine was developed in the 1960s from America's mainstream publication "Aviation Week."

India Set To Launch GSLV In April | AVIATION WEEK

"India Set To Launch GSLV In April

Mar 26, 2010

By Frank Morring, Jr.
...
Instead of an Indian engine built with Russian technology, the GSLV flew with a Russian-built KVD-1 engine originally developed in the 1960s for the Soviet Union’s N-1 Moon rocket. A successful flight of India’s Cryogenic Engine will mark the end of that arrangement."

Originally Posted by Martian

Here is confirmation that Russia's first cryogenic engine was developed in the 1960s from America's mainstream publication "Aviation Week."

Instead of an Indian engine built with Russian technology, the GSLV flew with a Russian-built KVD-1 engine originally developed in the 1960s for the Soviet Union’s N-1 Moon rocket. A successful flight of India’s Cryogenic Engine will mark the end of that arrangement."

Martian, thanks for the replies.

the two test flights of the N-1 failed soon after taking off, so there's no real flight testing for the cryogenic stage. I remember in the 1980's when Russia used the KVD-1 as the upper stage on the Proton, it failed a few times.

Since the Russian themselves failed so many time, I wonder why India still want to purchase it?

it seems the Russians are not very keen in using their cryogenic upper stages, they like to use conventional fuel. it is reported that Russia is co-developing a new cryogenic engine with P&W based on the RL-10.

as for india, this is their first attempt on hard core engineering, they've been working on it for 17 years.