IIT Madras, ISRO Collaborate on Spacecraft Thermal Research Centre

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is teaming up with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to create a Centre of Excellence focused on research in ‘Fluid and Thermal Sciences’. ISRO will provide seed funding of Rs 1.84 Crore to establish this center, which aims to advance research in these critical areas for space exploration.

Overview

• Collaboration: IIT Madras and ISRO have partnered to establish a Centre of Excellence for research in ‘Fluid and Thermal Sciences’.
• Seed Funding: ISRO will provide Rs 1.84 Crore as seed funding to set up the Centre.
• Date of MoU Signing: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 11th November 2024.

Key Details of the Collaboration

Centre’s Focus

• Thermal Management Research Hub : The Centre will be dedicated to spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management challenges.
• Industry-Academia Interface : The Centre will enhance collaboration between ISRO scientists and IIT Madras faculty, promoting innovation.

Initial Funding

• Seed Funding : Rs 1.84 Crore will be allocated for infrastructure, equipment, consumables, maintenance, and future projects.
• Additional Funding : Ongoing funding for consumables, maintenance, and upcoming research projects in fluid-thermal sciences.

Research Areas

• Spacecraft Thermal Management : Addressing challenges in managing thermal conditions for spacecraft.
• Combustion Instability in Hybrid Rockets : Researching combustion dynamics for hybrid rocket technologies.
• Cryo-tank Thermodynamics : Studying the behavior of cryogenic tanks, important for space missions.

Industry-Academia Collaboration

• The Centre will facilitate joint efforts between ISRO and IIT Madras faculty and students, fostering innovation in fluid and thermal sciences.

Key Outcomes Expected

• Thermal Management Solutions: Solutions to complex thermal engineering problems in spacecraft and launch vehicles.
• Advanced Research: Exploration of advanced topics like combustion instability, spacecraft thermal management, and cryogenic tank studies.
• Contribution to Space Program: The research will contribute to India’s self-reliance in space technologies.

Background

• Historical Collaboration: The collaboration between ISRO and IIT Madras dates back to 1985 with the establishment of the ‘ISRO-IIT M Space Technology Cell’.
• Centre’s Importance: The Centre will support ISRO’s R&D activities, focusing on spacecraft thermal management, rocket combustion, and cryogenic technology studies.

Key Stakeholders

• IIT Madras: Prof. Manu Santhanam (Dean, Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), Prof. Arvind Pattamatta (Project Coordinator, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering).
• ISRO: Mr. Victor Joseph T (Director, Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation).