Science & Technology MCQs

LIGO-India is a major project in collaboration with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in the United States. It aims to establish a third LIGO detector in India, complementing the two existing detectors in the US.

Semi-cryogenic engines, particularly those using Kerosene and LOX, offer a good balance between performance and cost. They generally provide higher efficiency and are less expensive to operate and manufacture compared to pure cryogenic engines (like LH2/LOX) and offer better performance than hypergolic engines.

The semi-cryogenic engine technology is being developed specifically for ISRO's Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This new generation of launch vehicles aims to enhance India's capabilities in launching heavier payloads and potentially reduce launch costs.

ISRO's semi-cryogenic engine test for the NGLV utilizes a combination of Kerosene (specifically, a refined grade often referred to as 'Refined Petrol' or RP-1) as the fuel and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. This is a significant step towards developing more efficient and cost-effective launch vehicles.

LIGO-India is being established in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra. The site was selected after extensive geological surveys to ensure seismic stability, a crucial factor for such a sensitive instrument. The project is a collaboration involving multiple Indian institutions.

The primary scientific objective of LIGO-India, like its US counterparts, is to detect and study gravitational waves. These waves are ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity and are generated by cataclysmic cosmic events such as the merger of black holes and neutron stars.

LIGO-India is a major undertaking by the LIGO Laboratory (managed by Caltech and MIT) in collaboration with a consortium of Indian research institutions, including IUCAA, RRI, and IISERs. It aims to establish a third LIGO detector in India to complement the existing detectors in the US.

The NGLV is envisioned to be a powerful and versatile launch vehicle capable of lifting heavier payloads to various orbits, including geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), and supporting future ambitious missions like human spaceflight. The semi-cryogenic engine is a key component in achieving this enhanced capability.

Semi-cryogenic engines, typically using propellants like kerosene and LOX, offer advantages in terms of lower manufacturing costs and simpler ground handling compared to engines using super-cold propellants like liquid hydrogen. While specific impulse might be slightly lower than pure cryogenic engines, the overall system benefits can be significant.

ISRO's semi-cryogenic engine test for the NGLV program utilizes a combination of Kerosene (Indane) as fuel and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. This is a significant step towards developing more powerful and efficient launch vehicles.