IIT Madras partners with ISRO to establish research center for spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have joined forces to launch a research center focused on fluid and thermal sciences, specifically aimed at addressing thermal management challenges for spacecraft and launch vehicles.

ISRO has committed an initial seed funding of Rs 1.84 crore to establish the center, expected to drive innovation and bolster India’s space program.

A hub for thermal management research

The new center at IIT Madras will serve as ISRO’s primary hub for research into the thermal management of spacecraft and launch vehicles.

Researchers will tackle complex thermal issues related to the design, analysis, and testing of critical spacecraft components.

By leveraging IIT Madras’ academic resources, the center aims to support ISRO’s technological advancements and operational readiness in space missions.

Prof. Manu Santhanam, dean of industrial consultancy and sponsored research at IIT Madras, and Victor Joseph T., director of ISRO’s Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a ceremony at IIT Madras.

The event was attended by faculty, ISRO scientists, and Prof. Arvind Pattamatta, who will coordinate the project on behalf of IIT Madras’ mechanical engineering department.

Key research goals and funding

Under this partnership, the research center will focus on four main objectives:

1. Thermal Management Research Hub: The center will concentrate on specific thermal management challenges in spacecraft and launch vehicles, such as heat dissipation and control in extreme conditions.

2. Funding and Infrastructure: ISRO’s Rs 1.84 crore funding will be allocated to infrastructure, advanced equipment, and research consumables necessary for conducting high-precision thermal studies.

3. Advanced Research Projects: Initial projects will target areas crucial to space technology, including cryo-tank thermodynamics, spacecraft thermal management, and combustion instability in hybrid rockets.

4. Industry-Academia Collaboration: The collaboration between ISRO and IIT Madras will foster direct engagement between scientists and students, facilitating knowledge exchange and innovation in fluid and thermal sciences.

Prof. Arvind Pattamatta emphasized the importance of this joint venture for advancing India’s space program. “This Center of Excellence will foster a unique industry-academia interface, allowing ISRO scientists and IIT Madras faculty and students to collaboratively advance research in critical areas of thermal science,” he said.

“By addressing complex thermal engineering challenges, we aim to contribute significantly to the nation’s space program and strengthen India’s self-reliance in space technologies," Pattamatta added.

Building on a legacy of collaboration

The center builds on a long-standing relationship between ISRO and IIT Madras. The two institutions have collaborated in the past through the ‘ISRO-IIT Madras Space Technology Cell’ established in 1985, which focused on generating basic knowledge and fostering self-reliant space research in India. 

The new facility will extend this legacy, aligning with ISRO’s current research and development needs in fluid and thermal sciences.

ISRO has endorsed the center’s capacity to contribute to critical space research initiatives.

Key areas identified for exploration include the study of thermal management systems for spacecraft, addressing combustion instability in hybrid rocket engines, and advancing thermodynamic processes in cryogenic storage tanks.

These research initiatives are intended to support ISRO’s expanding mission portfolio and future projects.