ISRO Achieves Milestone with Third Successful Hot-Fire Test of SE2000 Engine
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has marked another significant achievement in its Semicryogenic Engine development program with the successful completion of the third hot-fire test of the SE2000 (formerly SCE-200) Power Head Test Article (PHTA). The test, conducted on May 28, 2025, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, demonstrated stable operation at 60% of the engine’s rated thrust for a duration of 3 seconds.
The primary objective of this test was to fine-tune and finalize the start-up sequence of the SE2000 engine, a critical step in validating the design of key components such as the fuel loading system, turbo-pumps, start system, and control mechanisms. The SE2000, a high-thrust 2,000 kN semicryogenic engine powered by liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene, is designed to enhance the payload capacity of ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3). It will replace the current L110 liquid core stage with the new SC120 stage, boosting the LVM3’s Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) capacity from 4 to 5 tonnes and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity from 8 to 10 tonnes.
This milestone follows successful hot-fire tests in March and April 2025, building on ISRO’s progress after an initial unsuccessful attempt in July 2023. The test was conducted at the Semicryogenic Integrated Engine Test Facility (SIET), inaugurated in 2024, which features advanced real-time data acquisition systems. ISRO’s collaboration with Indian industries for component manufacturing and space-grade kerosene production has been instrumental in this achievement.
ISRO’s advancements in semicryogenic propulsion are seen as a thermodynamic and economic optimization, paving the way for scalable, reusable, and interplanetary missions. With subsystem validations now complete, ISRO is preparing for integrated engine-level trials, bringing India closer to enhancing its heavy-lift launch capabilities.
This success highlights ISRO’s commitment to advance India’s space ambitions, with the SE2000 engine poised to power future launch vehicles and strengthen the nation’s position in global space exploration.
