The Liquid Propulsion Systems Center of ISRO is working on creating the necessary engine subsystems for the LOX-Methane engine that would be used in the upcoming generation of launch vehicles. Sub-scale testing of these subsystems has started. For any cryogenic engine to be successful, the thrust chamber and injector head must be constructed optimally. The first hot test of the high thrust LOX-Methane Engine at thrust chamber level with a single element injector was successfully completed by ISRO.
On January 27, 2026, the test was carried out at the Thrust Chamber Test site at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri. The single element injector head and sub-scale thrust chamber underwent successful testing up to a chamber pressure of 56 bar. Additive manufacturing was used to create the single element injector head and sub-scale thrust chamber. All systems were operating normally, and ignition and flame sustenance inside the thrust chamber were accomplished.
