IIT Madras, ISRO to Establish Space Research Hub for Spacecraft Study

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch a groundbreaking Centre of Excellence in 'Fluid and Thermal Sciences.' With an initial seed funding of Rs 1.84 crore from ISRO, this new Centre will drive cutting-edge research, focusing on spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management.

According to IIT Madras, with guidance from IIT's top faculty, this Centre will be ISRO's central hub for addressing complex thermal challenges related to spacecraft design, testing, and analysis. The partnership is expected to deliver several high-impact outcomes:

Thermal Management Research Hub: The Centre will be crucial for solving thermal management issues in ISRO's spacecraft and launch vehicles.

Seed Funding: ISRO's Rs 1.84 crore grant will support infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and additional funding for maintenance and consumables.

Advanced Research Projects: The Centre will spearhead research in critical areas such as spacecraft thermal control, hybrid rocket combustion instability, and cryo-tank thermodynamics.

Industry-Academia Partnership: This initiative will deepen collaboration between ISRO scientists and IIT Madras faculty, driving innovations in fluid and thermal sciences.

This Centre marks a significant step forward in strengthening India's space technology capabilities and fostering industry-academic collaboration.