ISRO Unveils World’s Largest 10-Tonne Vertical Mixer for Solid Propellants

India’s Breakthrough in Space Technology Manufacturing

ISRO Unveils World’s Largest 10-Tonne Vertical Mixer for Solid Propellants: India’s space ambitions took a powerful leap on February 13, 2025, when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the development of the world’s largest 10-tonne Vertical Planetary Mixer. Built in collaboration with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) in Bengaluru, this mixer will significantly boost solid rocket motor production, a critical component of India’s space launch capabilities.

Why Solid Propulsion Matters

Solid propulsion forms the backbone of India’s space transportation, especially for rockets like the PSLV and GSLV. It relies on propellants that must be mixed with extreme care due to their hazardous and sensitive nature. The newly developed mixer will ensure uniform and safe mixing, improving the quality, reliability, and performance of rocket launches.

Technical Edge of the Vertical Planetary Mixer

The vertical mixer is an engineering marvel weighing 150 tonnes. With a height of 8.7 metres, breadth of 3.3 metres, and length of 5.4 metres, the machine comes equipped with hydrostatically driven agitators. It is managed through a PLC-based control system, integrated with SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) for precision monitoring. These features make it a game-changer in the production of solid propellants.

Collaborative Innovation: ISRO, SDSC & CMTI

The development of this advanced mixer was spearheaded by SDSC SHAR (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) with CMTI and industrial partners. It included active participation from academic institutions, promoting innovation within India. Factory acceptance tests have already validated the mixer’s operational success, marking it ready for deployment in real-time production environments.

Boost to India’s Space Self-Reliance Goals

This innovation directly contributes to Atmanirbhar Bharat in the space sector. By manufacturing such advanced infrastructure indigenously, India reduces dependency on foreign technology. The mixer’s implementation will improve production throughput, speed up mission timelines, and support upcoming ISRO missions like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4, and SSLV upgrades.

Static GK Snapshot: ISRO’s 10-Tonne Vertical Planetary Mixer