The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully constructed a 10-ton propellant mixer for solid motors, which will increase solid propellant output. ISRO calls this feat a technical marvel. The 10-ton vertical mixer is the world’s biggest solid propellant mixing system.
The 10-ton Vertical Planetary Mixer was conceived and built by SRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, in partnership with Bangalore’s Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI).
Collaboration with academics and industry was also part of the development process.
Solid propellants are critical to rocket engines, necessitating the exact mixing of delicate and dangerous materials.
The new mixer will increase the efficiency and quality of solid motor manufacture.
The 10-ton vertical mixer weighs over 150 tonnes and measures 5.4 meters in length, 3.3 meters in width, and 8.7 meters in height.
It has numerous hydrostatic-driven agitators and is operated remotely using a PLC-based control system with SCADA stations.
The high-capacity mixer will boost productivity, quality, and throughput in heavy solid motor manufacture.
The development is consistent with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) policy, which encourages indigenous development of vital technologies, materials, and apparatus in the space industry.
The Director of CMTI handed over the 10-ton vertical mixer to the Director of SDSC SHAR in the presence of ISRO Chairperson V Narayanan at CMTI in Bangalore.
