Gaganyaan: Vikas engine tested for 3rd time, Elon Musk congratulates Isro

 Elon Musk, the founder of aerospace manufacturing giant SpaceX, commented "Congratulations!" on ISRO's tweet about the hot test of Vikas Engine.

Elon Musk, the founder of aerospace manufacturing giant SpaceX and CEO of electric car maker Tesla. (Photo: Reuters)

Elon Musk on Wednesday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for successfully conducting the third long-duration hot test on the Vikas Engine that would launch the ambitious Gaganyaan programme.

Musk, the founder of aerospace manufacturing giant SpaceX, commented "Congratulations" on ISRO's tweet.

ISRO tested the liquid propellant Vikas Engine as part of the engine qualification requirements for the Gaganyaan programme, The test was conducted for the core L110 liquid stage of the human-rated GSLV MkIII vehicle, Isro said in a statement.

The engine was fired for 240 seconds at the test facility of Isro Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

As per the official statement released by ISRO, the engine's performance met the test objectives and the parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test.

Four Indian astronaut candidates have already undergone generic space flight training in Russia as part of the Gaganyaan programme.

The formal announcement of the Gaganyaan programme was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2018.