Isro tests engine that will power India's Bahubali LVM3 rocket in space

India’s space programme moved another step forward on September 9, 2026, with Isro successfully testing a powerful cryogenic rocket engine at its facility in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.The test is important for two major goals, including future LVM3 satellite launches and India’s first human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.CE20 ENGINE PASSES IMPORTANT TESTIsro said the CE20 cryogenic engine earmarked for the C32 upper stage of an upcoming LVM3 mission successfully completed a flight acceptance hot test at 220 kN thrust, an uprated level, at the Isro Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri.The CE20 is a home-grown engine that uses super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as fuel. The Isro CE20 engine test is seen taking place. (Photo: Isro) It powers the upper stage of the LVM3, India’s heaviest operational rocket, which has already carried Chandrayaan missions and commercial satellites into space.Testing it at 220 kN is important because the higher thrust will allow the LVM3 to carry heavier payloads. The upgraded C32 upper stage also carries more fuel than the earlier version, further increasing the rocket’s capability.ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS GAGANYAANThe same test also demonstrated the performance of the LOX Tank Pressurisation Module (LTPM) designed for the C32 stages that will be used in Gaganyaan missions.The system helps maintain the pressure needed to keep liquid oxygen flowing properly inside the rocket. Ensuring that it works reliably is a key part of preparing the launch vehicle for human spaceflight.For India, such ground tests are more than routine checks.They help prove that critical rocket systems can perform reliably before they are used in actual missions.A more powerful LVM3 could help India put heavier satellites into orbit, while the progress on the C32 and its systems brings the country a step closer to flying Indian astronauts under Gaganyaan.Each successful test helps reduce risks before those flights take place.- EndsPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 12:57 IST