ISRO develops 10-tonne propellant mixer for solid motors
Bengaluru (PTI): ISRO on Friday said it has developed and realised the ten-tonne propellant mixer for solid motors.
Solid propulsion plays a crucial role in Indian Space Transportation Systems and vertical mixer is one of the critical equipment in solid motor production, ISRO said in a statement.
"Solid propellants are the backbone of rocket motors, and their production requires precise mixing of highly sensitive and hazardous ingredients," the statement read.
The space agency said that towards increasing the production scale of solid motor segments, Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in collaboration with Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), Bengaluru has successfully designed and developed 10-tonne Vertical Planetary Mixers for processing the solid propellants.
ISRO has termed it a significant technological marvel. It added that the 10-tonne vertical mixer is the world's largest solid propellant mixing equipment.
The development involves collaboration with academia and industries and has completed factory-level acceptance tests.
This high-capacity mixer will enable productivity, quality and throughput improvement for heavy solid motors production.
Stating that the Department of Space has undertaken multiple initiatives towards indigenous development of critical technologies, materials and machinery as part of ‘Atmanirbharata (self reliance) in Space’, ISRO said. "The realisation of indigenous 10-tonne vertical mixer is a true testament to India’s growing technological prowess, self-reliance and unwavering commitment to innovation," it added.
The 10 tonne vertical mixer is handed over to Director, SDSC SHAR by Director, CMTI in the presence of ISRO Chairperson V Narayanan on Thursday in CMTI, Bengaluru.
ISRO said the 10-tonne vertical mixer weighs about 150 tonnes with a length of 5.4 m, breadth of 3.3 m and height of 8.7 m.
The system has multiple agitators, which are hydrostatic driven and will be remotely operated using PLC-based control system with SCADA stations.
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Govt terminates services of IMF ED K V Subramanian 6 months ahead of tenure
New Delhi, May 4 (PTI): Six months ahead of his three-year tenure, the government has terminated the services of K V Subramanian as the executive director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), sources said on Saturday.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has terminated Subramanian's services effective April 30, 2025, they added.
The reasons for Subramanian's exit have not been officially announced.
The sources said the government would soon find his replacement to be nominated to the IMF board.
According to the sources, Subramanian is learnt to have raised questions about the IMF's datasets, which did not go down well in the corridors of the multilateral agency.
Besides, the sources said, concerns were raised over an "alleged impropriety" relating to the promotion and publicity of his latest book, "India @ 100".
Subramanian was appointed as the executive director (India) at the IMF with effect from November 1, 2022 for a period of three years. Prior to this, he served as the chief economic adviser to the government.
The executive board of the IMF is composed of 25 directors (executive directors or EDs) elected by the member countries or groups of countries.
India is in a four-country constituency, along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan as members.
