ISRO Next-Jen LVM3 successfully tested the Se2000 engine for rocket upgrade

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully completed the third hot test of its semi-acarogenic engine power head test article (PhTA) on 28 May 2025 at the IPRC, Mahendragiri. The test 2000 KN-Class Se2000 engine is part of a series of performance assessment aimed at validating the main subcistam of the engine, which will eventually strengthen the SC120 propulsion phase with the aim of changing the current L110 L110 L110 L110 liquid core phase of the LVM3 launch vehicle. ISRO began this series of performance evaluation in March 2025, focusing on important components such as low and high-pressure turbo-pumps, pre-burner, start-up system, and various control mechanisms.

Three-step test

Official according to the officer ISRO press releasePHTA has conducted the first two hot tests, which included all systems except the thrust chamber. The first test at 28.03.2025 performed smooth ignition and bootstrap operation in a short period of 2.5 seconds. The second hot test at 24.04.2025 performed the Start Transient Build-Up and tested the Start-Up sequence by carrying out hot-firing for a period of 3.5 seconds. The third test was performed for a period of 3 seconds so that to move forward and the start-up sequence could be finalized.

The Se2000 liquid employs an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle using liquid oxygen and kerosene. It is capable of distributing a chamber pressure of 180 times and a specific impulse of 335 seconds-an upgrade on the hydragen-based propulsion of the L110 stage.

Future integration and impact on Indian launch capacity

With the completion of subcutam verification, ISRO will now start integrated engine-level testing, which is moving towards complete operating readiness. The SC120 stage operated by SE2000 is expected to increase the payload capacity of LVM3 from 4 to 5 tonnes of geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and to increase the Earth’s orbit (Leo) of the Earth less than 8 to 10 tons.