Indian Space Team - IST Propulsion Department

IST Propulsion Department

The Propulsion Department is the "engine room" of the organization. Its primary responsibility is to design and test the systems that provide the necessary thrust to overcome gravity and reach orbit.

Engine Research: Focuses on the development of various rocket engines, including solid motors, liquid engines, and potentially cryogenic or hybrid systems.
Fuel & Oxidizers: Engineers here work on propellant chemistry, managing the storage and flow of fuels (like Kerosene or LH2) and oxidizers (like LOX).
Thrust Vector Control (TVC): They design the mechanisms that tilt the engine's nozzle to steer the rocket during flight.
Testing: This department manages static fire tests to ensure the engine can handle the extreme pressure and heat without failing.

IST Founder Shivam Yadav Explain About Nambi Hybrid Rocket Engine in IISF 2024

IISF 2024 Nambi Hybrid Rocket Engine

Solid Fuel Motor Testing

NAMBI Engine Design

The NAMBI Hybrid Rocket Engine is the flagship project of the IST Propulsion Department. It is named in honor of the legendary Indian aerospace scientist, Shri Nambi Narayanan, who pioneered liquid propulsion in India.

This engine represents a shift toward safer, greener, and more cost-effective rocketry. Unlike traditional engines that use either all-solid or all-liquid propellants, the NAMBI engine utilizes a hybrid configuration to capture the "best of both worlds."

Technical Specifications & Architecture

The NAMBI engine is designed by the Propulsion Department to be a versatile powerhouse for small satellite launch vehicles (SSLVs) and sounding rockets.

Propellant Combination: * Fuel (Solid): Typically uses HTPB (Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene), a rubber-like solid fuel grain.
- Oxidizer (Liquid): Uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) or Nitrous Oxide, which is injected into the solid fuel chamber.
Thrust Profile: Designed for high specific impulse compared to pure solid motors, with recent test scales reaching the 30 kN (Kilo-Newton) class.
Throttle Capability: One of the department's biggest achievements with this engine is the ability to throttle the thrust (increase or decrease power) simply by adjusting the liquid oxidizer flow—a feat impossible for standard solid rockets.

Role of the IST Propulsion Department

In the development of the NAMBI engine, the Propulsion Department manages three high-stakes areas:

1. The Injector Design

They engineered a precision Swirl Injector system. This ensures that the liquid oxidizer mixes perfectly with the solid fuel as it vaporizes, preventing "unburned fuel" and maximizing efficiency.

2. Regression Rate Control

A major challenge in hybrid rockets is the slow burning of the solid fuel (regression rate). The department uses fuel additives and advanced grain geometries (like star or wagon-wheel shapes) to increase the surface area and boost the burn rate.

3. Thermal Management

Since the engine burns at several thousand degrees, the department works closely with the Structure & Designing Department to implement ablative cooling liners that protect the engine casing from melting during its 15–60 second burn durations.

Why "NAMBI"?

The choice of name is deeply symbolic. Nambi Narayanan fought for India’s transition from solid propellants (which are simple but hard to control) to liquid propellants (which are complex but efficient). By developing a Hybrid engine, the IST Propulsion Department is continuing that legacy—creating a system that is as simple as a solid rocket but as controllable as the liquid engines Nambi Narayanan spent his life perfecting.

Key Advantage: If a hybrid engine develops a fault during flight, the Propulsion Department's system can simply "shut off" the liquid flow to stop the engine—a safety feature that prevents the catastrophic explosions often seen in solid rocket failures.

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