IIT Madras, ISRO Partner to Tackle Thermal Challenges in Space Tech
Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 12:43 IST
The new research centre in IIT Madras will be set up in association with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with a focus on pursuing excellence in fluid and thermal. Here, work would also comprise activities on resolving the thermal management problems that are relevant to spacecraft and launch vehicles.
ISRO has now provided initial funding of Rs 1.84 crore to start with the initiative. It will turn into a central focal point for advanced research in the thermal management of space technology at IIT Madras, and will drive innovation and enrich Indian space capabilities.
Researchers will tackle complex thermal issues related to the design, analysis, and testing of critical spacecraft components.
By leveraging IIT Madras’ academic resources, the center aims to support ISRO’s technological advancements and operational readiness in space missions.
Prof. Manu Santhanam, dean of industrial consultancy and sponsored research at IIT Madras, and Victor Joseph T., director of ISRO’s Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a ceremony at IIT Madras.
The event was attended by faculty, ISRO scientists, and Prof. Arvind Pattamatta, who will coordinate the project on behalf of IIT Madras’ mechanical engineering department.
Thermal Management Research Hub: The center will concentrate on specific thermal management challenges in spacecraft and launch vehicles, such as heat dissipation and control in extreme conditions. Funding and Infrastructure: ISRO’s Rs 1.84 crore funding will be allocated to infrastructure, advanced equipment, and research consumables necessary for conducting high-precision thermal studies. Advanced Research Projects: Initial projects will target areas crucial to space technology, including cryo-tank thermodynamics, spacecraft thermal management, and combustion instability in hybrid rockets. Industry-Academia Collaboration: The collaboration between ISRO and IIT Madras will foster direct engagement between scientists and students, facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation in fluid and thermal sciences.
Prof. Arvind Pattamatta emphasized the importance of this joint venture for advancing India’s space program. “This Center of Excellence will foster a unique industry-academia interface, allowing ISRO scientists and IIT Madras faculty and students to collaboratively advance research in critical areas of thermal science,” he said.
“By addressing complex thermal engineering challenges, we aim to contribute significantly to the nation’s space program and strengthen India’s self-reliance in space technologies", Pattamatta added.
The center builds on a long-standing relationship between ISRO and IIT Madras. The two institutions have collaborated in the past through the ‘ISRO-IIT Madras Space Technology Cell’ established in 1985, which focused on generating basic knowledge and fostering self-reliant space research in India.
The new research facility should, therefore, be built upon this legacy, supplementing the fluid and thermal sciences research and development priorities of ISRO. ISRO has stated it is confident that the center will make significant contributions toward vital space research.
The specific research thrusts to be pursued at the center would include advanced thermal management systems, investigations in combustion instability issues within hybrid rocket engines, and improving thermodynamic processes within cryogenic storage tanks. All these research activities are being undertaken against the background of ISRO's increasingly heavy and widespread mission portfolio and future space activities.
ISRO has now provided initial funding of Rs 1.84 crore to start with the initiative. It will turn into a central focal point for advanced research in the thermal management of space technology at IIT Madras, and will drive innovation and enrich Indian space capabilities.
Researchers will tackle complex thermal issues related to the design, analysis, and testing of critical spacecraft components.
By leveraging IIT Madras’ academic resources, the center aims to support ISRO’s technological advancements and operational readiness in space missions.
Prof. Manu Santhanam, dean of industrial consultancy and sponsored research at IIT Madras, and Victor Joseph T., director of ISRO’s Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a ceremony at IIT Madras.
The event was attended by faculty, ISRO scientists, and Prof. Arvind Pattamatta, who will coordinate the project on behalf of IIT Madras’ mechanical engineering department.
Thermal Management Research Hub: The center will concentrate on specific thermal management challenges in spacecraft and launch vehicles, such as heat dissipation and control in extreme conditions. Funding and Infrastructure: ISRO’s Rs 1.84 crore funding will be allocated to infrastructure, advanced equipment, and research consumables necessary for conducting high-precision thermal studies. Advanced Research Projects: Initial projects will target areas crucial to space technology, including cryo-tank thermodynamics, spacecraft thermal management, and combustion instability in hybrid rockets. Industry-Academia Collaboration: The collaboration between ISRO and IIT Madras will foster direct engagement between scientists and students, facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation in fluid and thermal sciences.
Prof. Arvind Pattamatta emphasized the importance of this joint venture for advancing India’s space program. “This Center of Excellence will foster a unique industry-academia interface, allowing ISRO scientists and IIT Madras faculty and students to collaboratively advance research in critical areas of thermal science,” he said.
“By addressing complex thermal engineering challenges, we aim to contribute significantly to the nation’s space program and strengthen India’s self-reliance in space technologies", Pattamatta added.
The center builds on a long-standing relationship between ISRO and IIT Madras. The two institutions have collaborated in the past through the ‘ISRO-IIT Madras Space Technology Cell’ established in 1985, which focused on generating basic knowledge and fostering self-reliant space research in India.
The new research facility should, therefore, be built upon this legacy, supplementing the fluid and thermal sciences research and development priorities of ISRO. ISRO has stated it is confident that the center will make significant contributions toward vital space research.
The specific research thrusts to be pursued at the center would include advanced thermal management systems, investigations in combustion instability issues within hybrid rocket engines, and improving thermodynamic processes within cryogenic storage tanks. All these research activities are being undertaken against the background of ISRO's increasingly heavy and widespread mission portfolio and future space activities.
