IIT Madras & ISRO Collaborate To Launch Research Centre For Thermal Management Of Spacecraft & Launch Vehicles

IIT Madras and ISRO are establishing a Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Sciences with Rs 1.84 crore funding, focusing on spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management research.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are collaborating to establish a Centre of Excellence in 'Fluid and Thermal Sciences'. With an initial seed funding of Rs 1.84 crore from ISRO, this Centre aims to address spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management challenges, positioning itself as a key research hub for ISRO’s R&D activities. The Centre will draw upon the expertise of IIT Madras faculty for research in spacecraft thermal management, combustion instability in hybrid rockets, and cryo-tank thermodynamics.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this collaboration was signed at IIT Madras on November 11, 2024, by Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research) at IIT Madras, and Mr. Victor Joseph T, Director, Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation at ISRO. Project Coordinator Prof. Arvind Pattamatta of IIT Madras's Department of Mechanical Engineering also participated in the signing, alongside other stakeholders.

Key outcomes from this partnership include:

• Thermal Management Research Hub: The Centre will lead ISRO’s research in spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management.


• Funding and Infrastructure: ISRO’s seed funding will establish essential infrastructure and equipment, with provisions for future projects in fluid-thermal sciences.


• Advanced Research Projects: Focusing on areas like thermal management, hybrid rocket combustion instability, and cryo-tank thermodynamics.


• Enhanced Industry-Academia Collaboration: The Centre will strengthen ties between ISRO scientists and IIT Madras researchers, driving innovation in fluid and thermal sciences.

Prof. Arvind Pattamatta highlighted the significance of this initiative, saying, “This Centre of Excellence will create a unique interface between industry and academia, enabling collaborative research on critical thermal science challenges. We aim to contribute to India's space program and bolster self-reliance in space technologies."

This initiative builds on a history of collaboration between IIT Madras and ISRO, which began with the establishment of the 'ISRO-IIT M Space Technology Cell' in 1985. The Centre’s advanced capabilities are expected to bolster ISRO’s research in fluid and thermal sciences, supporting the Department of Space’s expanding R&D activities in these crucial fields.

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