Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF)

In news– The President of India has recently inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF) in Bengaluru.

HAL’s Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF)-

The ICMF is dedicated to Rocket Manufacturing and its assembly for ISRO. The facility will boost self-reliance in the manufacturing of high-thrust rocket engines.
The facility is set up over an area of 4,500 sq mt housing hi-tech equipment and testing facilities for manufacturing Cryogenic (CE20) and Semi-cryogenic Engines (SE2000) of Indian Space Launch Vehicles.

Cryogenic technology-

In physics, cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures.
Cryogenic Engines are the most widely used engines world over in space launch vehicles.
Due to the complex nature of the cryogenic engine, till date only few countries USA, France, Japan, China and Russia have mastered the cryogenic technology.
In 2014 India successfully flew GSLV-D5 with a cryogenic engine (made by ISRO through private industries) and became the sixth country in developing cryogenic engines.