Mumbai-based space start-up Manastu Space on Wednesday said it had successfully test-fired its home-built thruster – Vyom 2U – onboard the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4, tiling the platform by 24 degrees and imparting angular velocity before the onboard systems regained control. The POEM-4 platform, comprising the fourth stage of the PSLV-C60 rocket that launched the SpaDeX satellites on Monday, has been placed in an orbit at an altitude of 350 kms where several ISRO labs, start-ups and educational institutions will carry out in-orbit experiments.
"We test-fired our green propulsion system Vyom-2U onboard the POEM-4 on the New Year's Eve," Manastu Space founder and CEO Tushar Jadhav told PTI.
He said the 30-second firing of the thruster tilted the PSLV POEM-4 platform by 24 degrees, imparting an angular velocity of 0.5 deg per second before onboard systems seamlessly regained control.
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"Over the coming days, PSLV will perform multiple critical maneuvers, culminating in 500+ seconds of cumulative in-space firing time, cementing the success of this In-Orbit Demonstration of Manastu Space's Green Propulsion system VYOM 2U based on MS289 green propellant," the start-up said in a LinkedIn post.
The thrusters use MS289 propellant, which is a blend of hydrogen peroxide and replaces the hydrazine-based carcinogenic propellants used by satellites till now.
"We are deeply grateful to ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization - and IN-SPACe for providing an incredible platform like POEM to test our product and many others…," the start-up said.
Demonstration of seed germination in outer space, a robotic arm to catch a tethered debris there, and testing of green propulsion systems are some of the experiments planned on the POEM-4.
The POEM is carrying 24 experiments -- 14 from various ISRO labs and 10 from private universities and start-ups -- to demonstrate various technologies in space.
"The PSLV Orbital Experiment Module is a practical solution deployed by ISRO that allows the Indian start-ups, academic institutions and research organizations to test their space technologies without the need to launch entire satellites. By making this platform accessible, we are reducing entry barriers and enabling a wider range of entities to contribute to the space sector," Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre, said in a statement.
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