IIT Madras and ISRO join hands to create Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Sciences
IIT Madras and ISRO join hands to create Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Sciences
IIT Madras has collaborated with ISRO to create a ‘Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Sciences.’
Recent news has confirmed that IIT Madras has established a partnership with ISRO to conduct in-depth studies. This center will act as the central hub for investigating thermal issues associated with the design, analysis, and testing of spacecraft and launch vehicle components.
A memorandum of understanding for this partnership was executed at IIT Madras on November 11, 2024, by Professor Manu Santhanam, Dean of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research at IIT Madras, and Victor Joseph T, Director of the Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation (DTDI) at ISRO.
ISRO will allocate seed funding of Rs 1.84 crore to establish this center. There will be extra funding allocated for consumables, maintenance, and upcoming projects in fluid-thermal sciences.
This Centre will act as a key focal point for ISRO’s research initiatives aimed at thermal management in spacecraft and launch vehicles. Leveraging the knowledge of IIT Madras faculty, it will be possible to efficiently tackle the thermal issues related to the design, analysis, and testing of different components. In other words, The Centre will act as a vital research center for ISRO, concentrating on the thermal management issues related to spacecraft and launch vehicles.
“This Centre 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. 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,” says Professor Arvind Pattamatta, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras.
Projects will focus on essential topics such as thermal management for spacecraft, combustion instability in hybrid rocket systems, and the thermodynamics of cryogenic tanks.
The Centre will strengthen the partnership between ISRO scientists and IIT Madras faculty, promoting advancements in fluid and thermal sciences.
The main outcomes of this partnership are expected to include:
- 1. Thermal Management Research Centre: This center will become a pivotal research facility for ISRO, dedicated to addressing thermal management issues related to spacecraft and launch vehicles.
- 2. Financial Support: ISRO will allocate an initial grant of ₹1.84 crores to set up the center, covering essential infrastructure, equipment, and ongoing operational costs, along with additional funding for consumables, maintenance, and future projects in fluid-thermal sciences.
- 3. Cutting-edge Research Initiatives: Research projects will focus on vital areas such as spacecraft thermal control, combustion instability in hybrid rocket systems, and the thermodynamics of cryogenic tanks.
- 4. Collaboration Between Industry and Academia: The partnership will strengthen the collaboration between ISRO’s scientists and faculty members at IIT Madras, encouraging advancements in fluid and thermal sciences.
