SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully developed a powerful new propellant mixer for solid rocket motors. This 10-tonne mixer is a major achievement in improving India's space technology.

Solid propellants are very important for rocket engines. Making them requires careful mixing of sensitive and dangerous ingredients. To increase production, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, along with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) in Bengaluru, designed and built this large vertical mixer.

ISRO called this a big technological success. It said the 10-tonne mixer is the largest solid propellant mixing machine in the world. The project was completed with help from universities and industries, and it has passed all factory tests.

This high-capacity mixer will improve production speed, quality, and efficiency for making solid rocket motors. ISRO also said that India is working on many projects to develop critical space technologies and materials as part of its 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) mission. The success of this mixer shows India's growing strength in technology and innovation.

On Thursday, the 10-tonne vertical mixer was officially handed over to the Director of SDSC SHAR by the Director of CMTI in the presence of ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan at CMTI, Bengaluru.

The mixer is huge, weighing around 150 tonnes. It measures 5.4 meters in length, 3.3 meters in width, and 8.7 meters in height. It has multiple agitators that run on a hydrostatic system and can be controlled remotely using a PLC-based control system with SCADA stations.

Solid fuel is key for India's space missions, as it powers rocket motors. To make this fuel, special machines are applied to carefully mix dangerous and sensitive materials.

To increase production, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) at ISRO has worked with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute in Bangalore. This institute is a top research organization under the Ministry of Heavy Industries. 

They have successfully designed and built a 10-ton Vertical Planetary Mixer. This advanced machine helps in mixing solid fuel ingredients effectively, making it a big achievement in technology.