Air Breathing Propulsion System
25.07.2024
Air Breathing Propulsion System
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For Prelims: About Air Breathing Propulsion System, Types of air-breathing propulsion |
Why in the news?
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the second experimental flight for the demonstration of Air Breathing Propulsion Technology.
About Air Breathing Propulsion System:
- In this system the rocket will carry its fuel, but will not carry an on-board oxidiser.
- Instead, this system will utilize atmospheric oxygen as an oxidiser to burn the fuel. This makes rockets significantly lighter and more efficient.
- However, such air-breathing technologies can be used only within the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere, where there is an adequate supply of oxygen.
- Such technologies might be feasible in the denser layers of Earth's atmosphere (up to 70 kilometers altitude), and thereafter the rocket must switch to another stage that has both fuel and an on-board oxidizer.
Types of air-breathing propulsion
- Ramjet: It is an air breathing propulsion engine operating on the principle of supersonic combustion. It has the absence of any rotator and relies solely on the forward motion of the engine to compress incoming air.
- Scramjet: It is an upgraded version of the Ramjet and generates thrust through supersonic air flow and combustion. It moves at hypersonic speed and performs best at high speeds, greater than Mach 5.
- In 2023, India became the fourth country to successfully demonstrate the flight testing of a Scramjet Engine.
- Dual-Mode Ramjet (DMRJ): It is a jet engine where a ramjet transforms into a scramjet over Mach 4-8 range and it can efficiently operate both in subsonic and supersonic combustor modes.
Source: The Hindu
Ques :- Consider the following statements with reference to the Air Breathing Propulsion Technology:
Statement-I
It is a technology in which rockets utilize atmospheric oxygen as an oxidiser to burn the fuel.
Statement-II
It can be used only within the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.
Answer A