Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)

Agency overview
Jurisdiction	Department of Space
Headquarters	Trivandrum
Annual budget	See the budget of ISRO
Agency executive	Mr. S Somanath, Director
Parent agency	ISRO
Website	lpsc.gov.in

The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC; Hindi: द्रव नोदन प्रणाली केंद्र) is a research and development centre functioning under Indian Space Research Organisation.^[1] It has two units located at Valiamala, in Thiruvananthapuram of Kerala, and Bengaluru of Karnataka. LPSC is augmented by ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri of Tamil Nadu.

LPSC is engaged in development of liquid and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles and auxiliary propulsion systems for both launch vehicles and satellites. Activities related to liquid propulsion stages, cryogenic propulsion stages and control systems for launch vehicles and spacecraft is done at Thiruvananthapuram. Precision fabrication facilities, development of transducers and integration of satellite propulsion systems are carried out at Bangalore. The developmental and flight tests along with assembly and integration are done at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

The development of liquid propellant stages for PSLV, control systems for SLV-3, ASLV, PSLV and GSLV, satellite propulsion systems including those for INSAT and IRS and production of pressure transducers are done by the LPSC for India. The LPSC has developed indigenous cryogenic upper stage for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) which was successfully test fired by ISRO on August 4, 2007.

LPSC's current director is Mr. S Somanath. He succeeded K. Sivan on June 01, 2015 after which Dr Sivan was appointed as Director of VSSC.^[2]

LPSC Valiamala

This unit serves as LPSC headquarters, and is involved in research and development of Earth-storable and cryogenic propulsion for launch vehicles. It delivers engines, stages, associated control systems and components for launch vehicle and spacecrafts. ^[3][4]

The main activities carried out at Valiamala include:^[3]

• Research and Development in earth storable and cryogenic propulsion systems for Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft applications
• System design and architecture
• Management of system projects
• Management of earth storable and cryogenic engine and stage systems
• Integration of launch vehicle propulsion control system packages and modules
• Low thrust thruster test facilities for satellite thrusters

LPSC Bangalore

This unit caters predominantly to propulsion requirements of satellite programmes of ISRO apart from development of indigenous sensors and transducers.^[4] The activities that are carried out here include:^[3]

• Design and realisation of monopropellant thrusters and components
• Integration of spacecraft propulsion systems
• Development and production of transducers
• Management of launch vehicle stage tanks and structures at industries

LPSC Mahendragiri

On 1 February 2014, this unit was renamed as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Propulsion Complex and was also made an autonomous department under ISRO. The Mahendragiri unit was previously functioning under LPSC in Valiamala.^[5] The main activities carried out at here are:^[3]

• Assembly and integration of liquid engines and stages
• Testing of liquid engines and stages
• High altitude test facilities for upper stage engines
• Propellant storage facilities

See also

• Indian Space Research Organisation
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
• Satish Dhawan Space Centre
• Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

References

1. LPSC Webpage
2. Correspondent, Special (July 2, 2014). "New Directors at ISRO centres". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
3. "Home-History Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre". Retrieved 5 February 2014.
4. "ISRO Centres-Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre". Retrieved 5 February 2014.
5. "Isro's Mahendragiri centre elevated, gets more powers". Retrieved 3 February 2014.