Russia's semi-cryogenic engine to power Indian rockets; likely to be discussed at Modi-Putin summit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Russia is likely to support India's space missions. India may receive support in the areas of engine manufacturing, rocket fuel, piloted spaceflight and development of national orbital stations. It is indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss this with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 23rd summit to be held in Delhi.

Russia is a country that owns large rockets. India may buy semi-cryogenic engines. Semi-cryogenic engines are engines that use kerosene and liquid oxygen. The advantage is that this will help reduce the weight of the rockets and achieve greater load-carrying capacity. RD-191 engines will be purchased. It is reported that India will use RD-191 engines in the LVM 3 rocket version. ISRO is on the mission of developing a highly capable new-generation rocket after PSLV and GSLV.

US tariff issue increased interest in Russia

• Gaganyaan, which will send Indians to space, is an important project of India after the success of Chandrayaan-3. India had sought cooperation from countries like Russia, the US, and France in this. Subsequently, India partnered with the US on the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite project. The country had also initiated more cooperation with NASA.
• India is expected to show more interest in cooperating with Russia in the field of space science as US tariff measures have dampened cooperation.
• India's space partnership with Russia began in the 1960s. Russia helped launch India's first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975. Rakesh Sharma went into space in 1984 on a Soviet spacecraft. Russia is also collaborating on the upcoming human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.