Overview
- ISRO carried out a 165‑second flight‑acceptance hot test of the indigenous CE20 cryogenic engine on September 9, 2026 at the Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, reaching an uprated thrust of 220 kN.
- The CE20 uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to power LVM3’s upper stage and met all test objectives, with ISRO reporting that the engine and test facility performed as expected.
- The run also successfully demonstrated the LOX Tank Pressurisation Module (LTPM), a subsystem that keeps liquid‑oxygen feed pressure stable and is intended for the C32 stage planned for Gaganyaan crewed flights.
- Sea‑level hot testing of a high area‑ratio nozzle is technically challenging because flow separation can cause vibrations and thermal stress, so ISRO previously used a Nozzle Protection System and earlier March tests to reduce risk before this uprated test.
- The result advances qualification of an uprated C32 upper stage that carries more propellant and could raise LVM3 payload mass to orbit, but ISRO still must integrate the engine into a flight stage and assign missions before the uprated configuration flies.