The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has inaugurated the S. Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Science Research at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. The facility, launched on March 17, 2025, will focus on research in thermal management technologies for spacecraft and launch vehicles.
Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras, the centre will specialize in heat transfer, cooling systems, and fluid dynamics, key areas for space applications. Researchers will work on developing advanced thermal control solutions to enhance spacecraft durability and improve mission reliability.
The centre’s research will cover experimental and computational studies on cooling technologies such as micro heat pipes, spray cooling, vapor chambers, and two-phase heat transfer devices. It will also feature high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental testing setups.
In addition to research, the centre will facilitate training programs for ISRO scientists, encouraging academic collaborations and knowledge exchange between industry and academia. The findings from the centre are expected to contribute to upcoming lunar, planetary, and deep-space missions.
The inauguration was attended by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, and senior faculty members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.