MUMBAI, India, Sept. 14 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202611088400 A) filed by Uttaranchal University on July 20, 2026, for A Hybrid Staged Rocket Propulsion System.
Inventors include Sachin Srivastava; Bhimini Sneha Sree; Dev Kumar; Ankur Kumar; Diwakar Singh; Mahaveer Gaur; Gaurav Singh; and Kesavapatnam Sashivardhan.
The application for the patent was published on September 11, 2026, under issue no. 37/2026.
Abstract: A hybrid multi-stage spacecraft system and its method of operation combine high-thrust chemical launch capabilities with high-efficiency electric deep-space propulsion inside a sustainable, green-technology framework. The vehicle architecture features a chemical propulsion stage fed by non-polluting green propellants, such as liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen or renewable methane, which provides the critical initial thrust needed during liftoff and ascent phases. A pyro-technically managed separation mechanism connects this first stage to a lightweight upper module, allowing the heavy spent chemical tanks and engine housings to be cleanly jettisoned post-burn to reduce the overall vehicle mass fraction. Upon separation, a control computer runs an automated mode-switching logic that safely isolates the chemical plumbing, deploys high-efficiency solar arrays, and activates an upper electric propulsion core comprising ion, Hall-effect, or iodine plasma thrusters. The electric propulsion system draws green electrical current from the solar panels and an array of regenerative fuel cells—which are uniquely pre-warmed and cross-charged by chemical waste heat prior to separation—to generate sustained, long-duration thrust for orbit circularization and deep-space travel while minimizing costs and environmental impacts.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
