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Abstract
The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) which was formally constituted as a lead Centre for advanced propulsion systems development in ISRO on 1st June 1987 celebrates Silver Jubilee during 2012. LPSC has the mandate of supporting both the Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft programmes of ISRO. Starting with small Liquid Propellant Control Thrusters and Reaction Control/SITVC system development for SLV-3, today the activities of LPSC have grown many fold and encompasses integration and delivery of Liquid Propellant Booster Stages, Cryogenic Upper Stages and total Spacecraft Propulsion systems. Indigenization and production of Vikas Engine, realisation of Cryogenic Upper Stage for GSLV and the development of 200kN thrust Cryogenic Engine for GSLV-MkIII are some of the challenging assignments handled by LPSC which is also gearing up for the 2000kN thrust Lox-Kerosene Semi-Cryo Engine development. It has been a remarkable span of twenty five years of intense learning and accomplishment.
In this article, based on the AR & DB Satish Dhawan Memorial lecture delivered in June 2012 for Aeronautical Society of India, the evolution of Liquid Propulsion Systems development in ISRO and their increasing role in the current Indian Launch Vehicle programmes as well as the Spacecraft missions viz. IRS, GSAT, Chandrayan etc is described. The new initiatives in advanced propulsion systems such as Electric Propulsion for satellites and 2000kN thrust Semi-cryo engine development for future ISRO launch vehicles are also outlined.