
HYDERABAD: When Chandrayaan-3 made a historic landing on the moon last month, Hyderabad had more reasons than most to rejoice. For, it was the city-based Mishra Datu Nigam Limited (Midhani) that developed critical material needed for the 'Bahubali' rocket - the maraging steel. Midhani, which operates under the department of defence production, ministry of defence, developed the alloy when all advanced countries with the resources refused to provide India either the material or the technology. According to scientists, maraging steel was used to make the 'Bahubali LVM-3 rocket' carrying the lander and payloads of the lunar mission. "Though the material was available in the international market for small commercial requirements, no advanced country agreed to provide it for the purpose that Isro wanted. That is when Midhani came up with the indigenous maraging steel technology," said S K Jha, chairman and managing director of Midhani. Midhani looks at ISRO collaboration He was quick to add that India took the decision also because the quality of the steel was of great importance. Producing the material at home would assure quality and the required standards, he said. "Every detail was worked out with precision for the rocket to be as strong as it was," Jha added. Turns out, the maraging steel went through 50 types of quality checks - from procuring of raw material to supplying - before it was cleared for use. According to a scientific definition, maraging steels are carbon free iron-nickel alloys with additions of cobalt, molybdenum, titanium and aluminium. The steel supplied by Midhani has been used for making several rockets, including the Chandrayaan LVM3. Going forward, the city facility might work with ISRO as it explores the possibility of using composites instead of metals for its launches. "It is an idea that is taking shape. While ISRO will associate with several other agencies in this plan, Midhani too is likely to be a part of the mission," Jha said.
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