Mrinal

Why is it in News?

Celebrated by the ISRO, February 21 marks the 50th anniversary of India’s first solid rocket propellant.

About Mrinal:

It was named after a famous Classical Dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai, wife of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
It was the first totally indigenous composite propellant manufactured using locally available raw materials.
On Feb 21, 1969, this propellant was used to fly Rohini series RH-75 sounding rocket, which was designated Dynamic Test Vehicle (DTV), from Thumba.
At present, India is one of the pioneers in field of Solid Rocket Propellants, but the kick start was provided by Mrinal Solid Rocket Propellant.

Raw Materials used in Mrinal:

What are Composite Materials?

A composite material is a material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties that, when combined, produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components.
The individual components remain separate and distinct within the finished structure, differentiating composites from mixtures and solid solutions
Composite materials are light in weight and possess better structural and thermal properties, making them suitable materials to realize structural and ablative products for launch vehicle applications.

Source: www.isro.gov.in