Hydrogen set to Play Transformative Role in India’s Space Missions: ISRO Chief

By R Anil Kumar

• Hydrogen’s primary role in space exploration is as a high-performance rocket fuel, offering a high specific impulse and clean combustion producing only water vapor. Beyond propulsion, it is used in fuel cells for on-board power generation and life support systems, including generating breathable oxygen and water

• Future applications focus on using in-situ lunar water to produce hydrogen for refuelling, enabling long-term, sustainable human presence on the Moon and missions to Mars

Bengaluru. Hydrogen is set to play a transformative role in India’s space missions, clean energy transition, and industrial ecosystem, as emphasised by ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan at a national hydrogen fuel workshop in Bangalore.

Narayanan underlined hydrogen’s importance both as a propulsion fuel for rockets and as a strategic component of India’s broader energy ambitions.

ISRO’s mastery of cryogenic technology, once a denied capability, now represents a cornerstone of India’s space achievements, with the LVM-III rocket powered by a liquid hydrogen–oxygen upper stage marking a century of Indian launches.

Beyond propulsion, ISRO has demonstrated hydrogen’s versatility by testing a 100-watt oxygen-based fuel cell in orbit and scaling up to a 20-kilowatt system under development, opening avenues for future space habitats, long-duration missions, and power sustainability.

The successful development of cryogenic propulsion technology has been a breakthrough, with India fielding three operational systems.

ISRO achieved global distinctions by completing engine development in just 25 months, stage testing in 34 days, and flying a mission with only three active engines — record-setting benchmarks in propulsion.

Hydrogen’s potential in terrestrial applications was also highlighted, with examples ranging from the ISRO-TATA Motors partnership that developed a hydrogen fuel cell bus in 2010–11 to the commercial rollout of five hydrogen-powered buses in June 2025.

Such applications align strongly with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to position the country as a global hub for production, consumption, and export of hydrogen technologies.

Industrial synergies are emerging, with BHEL and NTPC actively working on hydrogen fuel systems, turbines, and transport applications.

The emphasis on safety remains paramount, as hydrogen’s risks demand next-generation sensors capable of millisecond detection to mitigate accidents in large-scale facilities.

Dr Narayanan stressed that hydrogen’s role extends beyond energy storage and mobility — it is central to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing climate change imperatives, and powering India’s scientific breakthroughs in space.

The collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and research institutes need to address technological challenges, with workshops fostering innovation toward renewable hydrogen, which currently accounts for less than 1% of global production.

The discussions also echoed India’s strategic commitment to cleaner technologies, as hydrogen offers zero carbon emissions at its point of use and enables decarbonisation across critical sectors such as aerospace, automotive, power generation, and heavy industries.

Dr Narayanan’s speech served as both a progress report and a call-to-action for young scientists and students to actively contribute to this transition.

The event underscored that hydrogen is not a distant technology of the future but an active enabler of India’s ambitions in deep space exploration, green energy leadership, and technological independence, positioning the country to lead in one of the most decisive energy revolutions of the 21st century.

“Hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a clean, efficient, and versatile energy carrier. With zero carbon emissions at the point of use, hydrogen offers a promising pathway to decarbonise critical sectors. The future is now. With less than 1% of global hydrogen from renewable sources, workshops like these are critical to bridge the gap between possibility and practice. Students must actively contribute to this energy transition,” Abhay G. Chebbi, Pro-Chancellor of Alliance University said.

The event highlighted India’s commitment to the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aiming to make India a global hub for hydrogen production, use, and export.

Hydrogen’s use in Space Exploration:

Rocket Propulsion

• Primary Fuel:

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is a cornerstone of rocket fuel, powering historical missions like Apollo and current launch vehicles.

• High Energy Density:

Its high energy content per unit mass makes it an efficient fuel for achieving the necessary thrust for space travel.

• Clean Combustion:

The only byproduct of burning hydrogen with oxygen is water vapor, which is environmentally friendly and crucial for clean, sustainable space missions.

Power and Life Support

• Fuel Cells:

Hydrogen is used in fuel cells to generate electricity for space vehicles and the International Space Station, providing power for instruments and systems.

• Life Support Systems:

Hydrogen can be split from water (often from lunar ice) to produce oxygen for crew members to breathe and can be re-combined with exhaled carbon dioxide to create more water.

Future Applications and Sustainability

• In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) :

A major goal is to produce hydrogen directly from water or ice found on the Moon or Mars.

• Reduced Mission Costs:

Deriving fuel and resources locally on other celestial bodies reduces the immense cost and complexity of launching these supplies from Earth.

• Sustainable Colonization:

Generating and recycling hydrogen on-site is a key step in developing sustainable long-term human settlements on the Moon and Mars.