Raman (rocket engine)

Raman
Country of originIndia
StatusActive
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Performance
Thrust
  • Raman-1: 890 N (200 lbf)
  • Raman-2: 820 N (180 lbf) (SL)[1], 1,500 N (340 lbf) (vac)
  • Raman Mini: 50 N (11 lbf)

The Raman engine is a bipropellant liquid-fuel rocket engine manufactured by Skyroot Aerospace that will be used in its Vikram family of rockets.[2] It is named after Indian Nobel laureate C. V. Raman.

Description

It uses unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and hypergolic propellants.[3] Its injector plate is completely 3D printed. The upper stage engine will be used in a cluster of four Raman-1, one Raman-2, and four Raman Mini in the fourth stage of the Vikram-1 rocket, which are capable of producing the total thrust of 5.26 kilonewtons (1,180 lbf) in vacuum. Raman-1 engine is capable of producing 890 newtons (200 lbf) of thrust[4], which four-engine clustered configuration gave a total thrust of 3.56 kilonewtons (800 lbf), while Raman-2 engine is capable of producing 1.5 kilonewtons (340 lbf) of thrust in vacuum[5], and Raman Mini engine is capable of producing 50 newtons (11 lbf) of thrust[6], which four-engine clustered configuration gave a total thrust of 200 newtons (45 lbf). While lower than many other rocket engines, it is required for conducting precise orbit adjustments.[7][8]

Development and testing

  • On 12 August 2020, Skyroot Aerospace successfully tested the engine for the first time.[9]
  • Skyroot Aerospace tested the Raman-2 engine, designed for vacuum conditions, by firing it for 200 seconds on a ground test stand. The team used water injection to mitigate flow separation in the vacuum-optimized nozzle, allowing accurate testing at sea level. This test provided critical data for the Vikram-1 rocket's fourth stage, advancing India's private space efforts.[10]

List of engines

  • Raman-1
  • Raman-2
  • Raman Mini

References

  1. ↑ "ISRO Supports a space start-up's Rocket Engine Test". ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "First Indian start-up firm Skyroot Aerospace to test fire rocket engine 'Raman': All you need to know". Jagranjosh.com. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  3. ↑ Skyroot Aerospace: Raman Engine Test Fire, retrieved 25 January 2022
  4. ↑ Skyroot Aerospace (21 June 2023). Raman - 1 Engine Test Fire | Skyroot Aerospace | Abridged Footage. Retrieved 19 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ Raman-2 Engine Flight Qualification Test, retrieved 19 August 2026
  6. ↑ Skyroot Aerospace (14 May 2025). Raman Mini Thruster Flight Qualification — Vikram-1 Pre-flight Update. Retrieved 19 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "With ISRO assistance, India's Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021". WION. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Koshy, Jacob (18 July 2026). "What makes Skyroot's Vikram-1 launch unique? | Explained". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Narasimhan, T. E. (12 August 2020). "Skyroot Aerospace first private company to test upper stage rocket engine". Business Standard India. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Tests Raman-2 Engine with Water Injection for Vikram-1 Rocket". twitter.com. 18 April 2025.
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