• UGI USER
  • Dec 19, 2022
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ISRO’s hot test of Scramjet engine success

GS Paper-3, Science and Technology

Why in the News

  • Recently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully completed the hot test of a scramjet engine.

What is a scramjet engine?

  • A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is a ramjet engine in which the airflow through the engine is supersonic or faster than the speed of sound.
  • The scramjet has no shock cone, instead slowing airflow with shock waves produced by an ignition source.
  • This allows the scramjet to function efficiently at extremely high speeds.
  • Vehicles equipped with the scramjet are designed to operate at speeds of at least Mach 15.

Difference Between Ramjet and Scramjet

  • A scramjet is a supersonic combustion ramjet. In a normal ramjet, the air is decelerated to subsonic speeds before combustion, but not in a scramjet.
  • The ramjet has a theoretical speed range of Mach 1-6, while the scramjet has a theoretical speed range of Mach 12-24.
  • Ramjets and scramjets cannot generate thrust at zero velocity. Requires a large amount of airflow to launch.
  • The scramjet has a higher specific impulse than the ramjet.
  • Subsonic combustion makes the ramjet more efficient and maneuverable than the less efficient scramjet due to supersonic combustion.