ISRO's Air-breathing propulsion system

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to test an air-breathing propulsion system, which aims to capitalise on the oxygen in the atmosphere instead of liquefied oxygen while in flight.

Details:

Generally, vehicles used to launch satellites into space use combustion of propellants with oxidiser and fuel. However, the new Air breathing propulsion system aims to use oxygen present in the atmosphere up to 50 km from the earth’s surface to burn the fuel stored in the rocket.

Benefits:

• This system would help in reducing the lift-off mass of the vehicle since liquefied oxygen need not be carried on board the vehicle.
• This would also help increasing the efficiency of the rocket and also make it cost-effective.
• It would also complement ISRO’s aim to develop a reusable launch vehicle, which would have longer flight duration.