Q. With reference to the Cryogenic engines, consider the following statements:
1.Russia was the first country to developed the first operational cryogenic engine for space applications.
2.Cryogenic engines are particularly efficient for launching payloads into interstellar space.
3.It uses extremely low temperatures for propulsion.
4.It uses mixes of liquefied gases (usually hydrogen and oxygen), which deliver greater thrust to weight.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct. Russia, formerly the Soviet Union, was the first country to develop the first operational cryogenic engine for space applications. Cryogenic engines use extremely low temperatures for propulsion. They rely on cryogenic fuels, such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which are stored at very low temperatures to maintain their liquid state. These fuels are more efficient and provide higher specific impulse (thrust per unit of propellant) compared to traditional rocket fuels. The combination of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants in cryogenic engines provides a high specific impulse (efficiency), leading to greater thrust for the amount of propellant used.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Cryogenic engines are efficient for launching payloads into various orbits, including low Earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit, and interplanetary missions. However, they are not specifically designed for launching payloads into interstellar space, as interstellar travel currently remains a theoretical concept due to the vast distances involved.
Source: Forum IAS
