Space Technology Innovations and Characterizations (STIC) Laboratory

The purpose of STIC laboratory is to carry out research and projects related to applications and future missions of ISRO. We are currently carrying out three projects with ISRO Centers:

1. Development of Surface Discharge Sparkplugs (SDS)

Surface discharge sparkplugs have been identified as the next generation sparkplugs, which have already identified its used in aircrafts and racing cars die to high plasma throughput and low power compared to the convensional sparkplugs. Another remarkable thing about semiconductor sparkplug is that the plasma generation does not depend on the pressure of the environment, and thus, the challege posed by Paschen't law can be overcome. 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between IIST and Liquid Propelsion Systems Center (LPSC, ISRO) for developing a high throughput, low-power sparkplugs for the future cryogenic engines. We have successfully developed a semiconductor sparkplug that operates with DC 1kV power (rather than pulsed 5kV, which creates problems in communication systems in the launch vehicle). The system is under prototype development for the actual space qualification.

2. Development of Laser Ignition Systems (LIS)

An alternative to the conventional sparkplug that operates at a high voltage is to employ laser-based ignition in space missions. We have signed another MoU with LPSC on developing Laser Ignition Systems (LIS) for future missions. The feasibility of LIS for space applications has been demonstrated by our team at IIST and LPSC.

3. Hard coatings for improving the lifetime of ballbearings in ISRO Spacecrafts.

We have signed an MoU with ISRO Inertail Systems Unit (IISU) for developing surface engineering techniques for improving the life and performance of ball-bearing systems in ISRO Spacecraft mechanisms. This mainly involves the studies on appropriate hard-coatings on ball-bearing systems in spacecrafts, and to study the surface energy modification techniques for improving the wettability of steel ball-bearing systems. For the development of the hard-coatings,we have designed and developed an in-house deposition system, and its optimization is currently in progress.
 

Coatings developed to protect ball bearings from wearing.