India Breaks Three World Records in Cryogenic Engines; ISRO Unveils Homegrown ‘Vikram’ and ‘Kalpana’ Space Microprocessors

18th March 2025 at 1:50 PM

2 minutes read

In a major stride toward self-reliance, ISRO and the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) have announced two groundbreaking advancements for space missions: the launch of Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201—India’s state-of-the-art microprocessors designed specifically for space applications. Simultaneously, the nation has set three world records in cryogenic engine technology, a field once off-limits to India.

Vikram 3201: India’s First Fully Indigenous 32-Bit Processor
Developed as a significant upgrade to the Vikram 1601, which has been in use since 2009, Vikram 3201 is India’s first entirely homegrown 32-bit microprocessor for launch vehicles. Fabricated at SCL’s 180nm CMOS facility, the chip boasts a 32-bit architecture, high-level language support with Ada, and floating-point computation capabilities vital for high-precision tasks in space. Its performance was validated during the PSLV-C60 mission, marking a reliable leap forward in India’s space technology.

Kalpana 3201: A SPARC-Based Powerhouse
Alongside Vikram 3201, ISRO and SCL have developed Kalpana 3201—a 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC microprocessor built on the IEEE 1754 instruction set architecture. Designed for speed and efficiency, Kalpana 3201 supports open-source software, ensuring versatility and ease of integration. Its development plays a key role in the miniaturization of avionics systems, reducing both size and weight while maintaining performance for space missions.

World Records in Cryogenic Engine Technology
India’s recent achievements in cryogenic engine technology further underline its growing capabilities in aerospace. Cryogenic engines, which use supercooled liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) to produce high thrust, are critical for the third stages of launch vehicles. India has set three world records in this domain:

Distinct Technological Milestones: Successfully developing three different cryogenic engine technologies.
Rapid Development-to-Flight Cycle: Completing the entire process in just 28 months—far quicker than the 42 months or even 18 years seen elsewhere.
Human-Rated Engine Achievement: Joining an elite group of six nations with a human-rated cryogenic engine.

These engines are crucial for powering the GSLV and LVM vehicles, enabling India to carry heavier payloads and embark on interplanetary missions.

A New Era in Space Technology
With indigenous microprocessors and record-breaking cryogenic engines, India is poised to lead a new era of Atmanirbhar Bharat in aerospace. These innovations not only reduce dependency on foreign technology but also showcase the nation’s burgeoning expertise in high-tech space systems, setting the stage for future explorations and breakthroughs.