The Indian Space Research Organisation has achieved another important milestone in the development of India’s heavy-lift launch capability with the successful flight-acceptance hot test of a CE20 cryogenic engine at an uprated thrust level of 22 tonnes.
The test was carried out on September 9, 2026, at the Main Engine and Stage Test facility of the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The engine has been identified for the LVM3-M7 mission, the seventh operational mission of India’s LVM3 launch vehicle.
ISRO is moving future LVM3 missions towards the use of a C32 upper stage operating the CE20 engine at 22-tonne thrust. The higher thrust configuration is intended to enhance the payload capability of the launch vehicle, making the latest test an important validation step before the engine is used in flight.
During the hot test, the CE20 completed its planned performance assessment and met all the specified objectives. ISRO confirmed that the engine systems performed satisfactorily under the test conditions.
A particular feature of the testing process is the use of a Nozzle Protection System. The CE20’s nozzle is designed to operate in the high-altitude environment of space, while acceptance testing is conducted under sea-level conditions. The previously validated system allows the engine to undergo testing while reproducing flight-equivalent vacuum conditions, helping streamline the acceptance process for cryogenic engines.
The latest test also included a successful demonstration of the LOX Tank Pressurization Module. The module is intended for the C32 stages being developed for the Gaganyaan programme, adding another technology validation milestone to India’s human spaceflight efforts.
Following completion of the test, the CE20 engine is scheduled to undergo refurbishment before being integrated with the C32 flight stage. The resulting stage will be used for the LVM3-M7 mission, which ISRO has planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The successful demonstration of the CE20 at 22-tonne thrust forms part of ISRO’s broader effort to enhance the LVM3 platform. Alongside the development of an uprated cryogenic upper stage, the space agency is also progressing advanced propulsion technologies that are expected to support future launch and human spaceflight missions.
With the CE20 test now successfully completed, preparations for the LVM3-M7 mission can move forward with the engine entering the next stage of flight hardware integration.
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