In a statement, the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) confirmed that it had supplied a special quality of stainless steel from its Salem Steel Plant for the construction of Chandrayaan-2 meeting ISRO’s requirements for stringent specifications, superior surface finish and close tolerance.
This is not the first time that SAIL collaborated with ISRO. Earlier also, SAIL had associated with ISRO for the country’s prestigious and indigenous space missions. For the Chandrayaan-2, SAIL’s special-quality sheet has been used in the Cryogenic Engine.
SAIL has taken a major step forward along with ISRO by being a part of the Make In India initiative which is lead by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for indigenously developing the “exotic Russian grade ICSS-1218-321(12X18H10T) austenitic stabilised stainless steel used in the construction of the cryogenic rocket engines that are being made at ISRO”.
The SAIL team at the Salem Steel Plant along with the scientists from the Liquid Propulsion System Centre of ISRO have collaborated closely and rolled the stainless steel coils at Salem.With this breakthrough, SAIL is optimistic about leveraging other aerospace grades of stainless steel for the space launch vehicle components in the future.