Raman (rocket engine)
| Country of origin | India |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Liquid-fuel engine | |
| Propellant | N2O4 / UDMH |
| Performance | |
| Thrust |
|
The Raman engine is a bipropellant liquid-fuel rocket engine manufactured by Skyroot Aerospace that will be used in its Vikram family of rockets.[2] It is named after Indian Nobel laureate C. V. Raman.
Description
[edit]It uses unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and hypergolic propellants.[3] Its injector plate is completely 3D printed. The upper stage engine will be used in a cluster of four Raman-1, one Raman-2, and four Raman Mini in the fourth stage of the Vikram-1 rocket, which are capable of producing the total thrust of 5.26 kilonewtons (1,180 lbf) in vacuum. Raman-1 engine is capable of producing 890 newtons (200 lbf) of thrust[4], which four-engine clustered configuration gave a total thrust of 3.56 kilonewtons (800 lbf), while Raman-2 engine is capable of producing 1.5 kilonewtons (340 lbf) of thrust in vacuum[5], and Raman Mini engine is capable of producing 50 newtons (11 lbf) of thrust[6], which four-engine clustered configuration gave a total thrust of 200 newtons (45 lbf). While lower than many other rocket engines, it is required for conducting precise orbit adjustments.[7][8]
Development and testing
[edit]- On 12 August 2020, Skyroot Aerospace successfully tested the engine for the first time.[9]
- Skyroot Aerospace tested the Raman-2 engine, designed for vacuum conditions, by firing it for 200 seconds on a ground test stand. The team used water injection to mitigate flow separation in the vacuum-optimized nozzle, allowing accurate testing at sea level. This test provided critical data for the Vikram-1 rocket's fourth stage, advancing India's private space efforts.[10]
List of engines
[edit]- Raman-1
- Raman-2
- Raman Mini
References
[edit]- ↑ "ISRO Supports a space start-up's Rocket Engine Test". ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "First Indian start-up firm Skyroot Aerospace to test fire rocket engine 'Raman': All you need to know". Jagranjosh.com. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ↑ Skyroot Aerospace: Raman Engine Test Fire, retrieved 25 January 2022
- ↑ Skyroot Aerospace (21 June 2023). Raman - 1 Engine Test Fire | Skyroot Aerospace | Abridged Footage. Retrieved 19 August 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Raman-2 Engine Flight Qualification Test, retrieved 19 August 2026
- ↑ Skyroot Aerospace (14 May 2025). Raman Mini Thruster Flight Qualification — Vikram-1 Pre-flight Update. Retrieved 19 August 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "With ISRO assistance, India's Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021". WION. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ↑ Koshy, Jacob (18 July 2026). "What makes Skyroot's Vikram-1 launch unique? | Explained". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Narasimhan, T. E. (12 August 2020). "Skyroot Aerospace first private company to test upper stage rocket engine". Business Standard India. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ↑ "Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Tests Raman-2 Engine with Water Injection for Vikram-1 Rocket". twitter.com. 18 April 2025.