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ISRO successfully hot-tested its Semi-Cryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at 175 tonnes (88% of rated thrust) on 24 June 2026 at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu — the eighth test in the PHTA series.
The SE2000 engine (2000 kN class) uses liquid oxygen and refined kerosene (RP-1) as propellants, and is designed to replace the LVM3's current L110 core stage as the SC120 semi-cryogenic stage.
The upgrade is expected to significantly boost LVM3's payload capacity and is also planned for India's future Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
A semi-cryogenic engine uses liquid oxygen (cryogenic) as oxidiser but refined kerosene (storable at ambient temperature) as fuel — unlike a fully cryogenic engine, which uses both liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, both requiring extremely low-temperature storage. The kerosene-LOX combination gives higher density impulse and simpler, cheaper handling.
Simple Analogy: A fully cryogenic engine is like needing two industrial freezers to store both ingredients; a semi-cryogenic engine only needs one — the other ingredient (kerosene) keeps fine at room temperature.
ISRO centre responsible for liquid/semi-cryogenic/cryogenic engine development and testing
GS Paper III - Science & Technology (Space, ISRO launch vehicles)
ISRO's 2000 kN-class semi-cryogenic engine using LOX and refined kerosene (RP-1)
Power Head Test Article — a test configuration used to validate an engine's power head (turbopumps, gas generator) before full engine-level testing