Indian startup Agnikul achieves historic milestone with 3D-printed rocket launch
What's the story
Indian space startup, Agnikul Cosmos, successfully launched its 'Agnibaan SOrTeD' rocket earlier today. This comes after four previous attempts were called off.
The rocket, a Sub-Orbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD), was entirely designed and assembled in-house at Agnikul's facilities within IIT Madras.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) described the successful mission as "a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing."
Technological innovation
Agnibaan rocket's unique features and capabilities
Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage rocket powered by a semi-cryogenic engine, capable of carrying up to 300kg to a 700km high orbit.
The complexity of its launch arises from the use of India's first semi-cryogenic engine, which employs a mix of liquid and gas for propellant.
Pawan Goenka, Chairman of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), hailed the achievement as "a historic moment for India's space sector," powered by the "world's first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine."
Upcoming ventures
Agnikul's future plans and commercial launches
The successful launch of the Agnibaan rocket is expected to validate Agnikul Cosmos's technologies for their upcoming commercial launches.
According to IN-SPACe's manifesto, the startup is expected to venture into commercial missions in Q3 and Q4 of FY 2024-2025.
The Chennai-based startup conducted this sub-orbital test-flight from its own launch pad at Sriharikota, making it India's second private entity to do so.
Mission specifics
Details of the Agnibaan sorted mission and test-flight
The SOrTeD mission was powered by a semi-cryogenic engine named Agnilet, an indigenously developed sub-cooled liquid oxygen-based propulsion system.
The vehicle is equipped with four carbon composite fins for passive control and uses sub-cooled Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).
The test-flight, conducted without any live-streaming and in presence of fewer dignitaries at the Sriharikota launch pad, lasted just over two minutes from launch to splashdown.