Skyroot Aerospace test-fires 3D-printed Dhawan II engine for record 200 seconds

In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine for a duration of 200 seconds. The engine was developed by the company for its heavier vehicle, Vikram II. The cryogenic engine that was tested yesterday will be used as the upper stage of the updated version of Vikram-II. A cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket. 

The Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November last year. The launch used a



single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket. The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by the company, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit. 

A company release in Hyderabad stated that the Skyroot plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the year-end, with the updated Vikram II rocket scheduled to become launch-ready by next year. This schedule will make the company the first private launcher from South Asia.