The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated the restart capability of its Vikas liquid engine at the Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, the agency announced on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

The Vikas engine, described as the workhorse of ISRO’s liquid propulsion stages, powers the space agency's launch vehicles. This recent test, conducted on January 17, represents a significant milestone in advancing technologies to enable the recovery and potential reusability of launch vehicle stages in the future, according to an official ISRO statement.

ISRO noted that the demonstration is part of a series of ongoing tests designed to validate the engine's ability to restart under various conditions.

"In this test, the engine was fired for 60 seconds, after which it was shut off for a period of 120 seconds followed by restart and firing for seven seconds duration. All engine parameters during the test were normal and as expected," the ISRO stated.

In a prior test conducted in December 2024, the Vikas engine completed a shorter-duration restart, which involved a shutdown period of 42 seconds followed by a seven-second firing sequence.

The agency further stated that additional tests are planned to refine and optimise the engine's performance under restart scenarios.

Meanwhile, ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan flagged off the core liquid stage (L110) of the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) launch vehicle on Friday. The stage was transported to the launch complex at Sriharikota.

The L110 stage, developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), is a crucial component of the LVM3 rocket. ISRO confirmed that it operates using twin Vikas engines and is designed to carry a propellant load of 110 tonnes.

"This stage is the tenth L110 liquid stage integrated at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri and is earmarked for the LVM3 mission under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and AST SpaceMobile & Science, LLC to launch their BlueBird Block 2 satellite," as per the agency statement.