SCRAMJET ENGINE

• ISRO used an Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV), a sound rocket for the test.
• The initial launch of ATV was by regular solid fuel rocket motor.
• Two scramjet engines were at the sides of the rocket.
• The scramjet engines were ignited 55 seconds later and physically operated for 6 seconds.
• The engine achieved ignition and maintained combustion at six times the speed of sound (Mach 6).
• Scramjet stands for Supersonic Combustion Ramjet
• Scramjet breathes air and uses high speed vehicle to forcefully compress the incoming air before combustion.
• Conventional aircraft engines on the other hand compresses air using fan before combustion.
• It is also called the air breathing engine as it uses atmospheric oxygen to burn the hydrogen fuel.
• Scramjets are efficient only at supersonic speed.