India’s first hybrid rocket
2023 MAR 1
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Science and Technology > Space technology > Basics of space technology
Why in news?
- India's first hybrid rocket made by the school students from various states launched as part of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023 from Pattipulam Village in Tamil Nadu.
More about the News:
- The reusable rocket has been made by the selected top 100 students.
- The rocket can be used for research into weather, atmospheric conditions and radiation.
About APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission-2023
- The mission is launched by Martin Foundation in association with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India.
- More than 5000 students from Grade 6th to 12th, from various parts of the country, have been enabled to design and develop 150 PICO satellites, to be launched through the rocket, in this initiative.
- The selected students have been taught about satellite technology through virtual classes, which have been followed by hands-on sessions to help them explore the project domain.
- 85 per cent of the funding for the project was done by Martin Foundation.
What is a hybrid rocket?
- It is a bipropellant rocket engine that uses propellants that are in two different states.
- These propellants are usually liquid and solid which react to form exhaust gases suitable for rocket propulsion.
Add ons:
- India’s first privately developed rocket Vikram-S (Suborbital) was launched on 18 November 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- It was designed by the Space technology startup Skyroot Aerospace.
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Orbital v/s Suborbital rockets:
- The main difference between orbital and suborbital flight is the speed at which a vehicle is traveling.
- An orbital spacecraft must achieve what is known as orbital velocity, whereas a suborbital rocket flies at a speed below that.
- Orbital velocity is the speed that an object must maintain to remain in orbit around a planet
- Suborbital flight, in contrast, requires much lower speeds. A suborbital rocket doesn't have the power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up to a certain height that depends on its speed, and then come back down once its engines are shut off.
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PRACTICE QUESTION:
Consider the following statements regarding ‘Vikram-S’ rocket:
1. It is India’s first privately designed rocket
2. It is India’s first hybrid rocket
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
