ISRO Conducts Flight Acceptance Test of CE20 Cryogenic Engine for LVM3 Mission

Exam-focused facts from the 10 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the flight acceptance hot test of the CE20 cryogenic engine for the seventh operational mission of the LVM3 launch vehicle (LVM-M7).
The test was conducted at the ISRO Propulsion Complex located in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
LVM3, formerly known as GSLV MkIII, is the heaviest rocket of ISRO and utilizes the CE20 cryogenic engine to power its upper stage.
The CE20 engine is qualified for thrust levels between 19 and 22 tonne and has been used in eight successive LVM3 missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and three commercial missions.
The engine has achieved human-rating qualification for Gaganyaan missions and was tested with a 22-tonne thrust level using the nozzle protection system (NPS) for the first time.