New Delhi, May 30
Chennai-based private space technology startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully test launched their maiden rocket on Thursday, from India's first and only private launchpad within the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The liftoff took place at 7.15 am today.
The Agnibaan SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator), holds the unique distinction of being powered by the world's first 3D printed engine, Agnilet, that has been designed and built in India.
Pawan K Goenka, Chairman of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) of the central government's Department of Space termed it a historic moment for the country's space sector. Taking to social media platform X he posted, "Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by AgnikulCosmos," and said the "achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators."
ISRO also congratulated Agnikul Cosmos for the "major milestone."
"Congratulations, @AgnikulCosmos, for the successful launch of the Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad. A major milestone as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realised through additive manufacturing," ISRO posted on X.
The rocket is powered by a semi-cryogenic engine that uses commercially available aviation turbine fuel kerosene and liquid oxygen.
Incubated at IIT-Madras in the year 2017, the startup in a statement prior to the launch said that unlike traditional sounding rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD, is designed to lift off vertically to follow a predetermined trajectory while performing a precisely orchestrated set of manoeuvres during flight.
Today's development comes as the fifth attempt by the company, which had called off a test flight of its first rocket on Tuesday, a mere few seconds before its launch. Tuesday's cancellation marked the fourth such cancellation in the last three months.
In a post on X, Agnikul Cosmos said they were "humbled" to announce the successful completion of their first flight "Mission 01 of Agnibaan SOrTeD."
"All the mission objectives of this controlled vertical ascent flight were met and performance was nominal," the company said.
They also thanked IN-SPACe, ISRO and IIT Madras for "helping prove that a private player can design and fly original space tech hardware in India."
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also extended his congratulations to Agnikul Cosmos for successfully completing its first launch.
"Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos @iitmadras Agnikul successfully completed its first launch from Agnikul's own & India's only private Launchpad within SDSC-SHAR. Besides being the world's first flight with a single piece 3D printed rocket engine, this controlled flight is also India's first flight with a semi cryogenic engine. The vehicle was completely designed in-house in India and assembled at Agnikul's facilities within IIT Madras," Chandrasekhar posted on X.
The engine test is powered by Agnikul's own data acquisition systems and flight computers, that were 100 per cent designed in-house. Moreover, the test also proves the capability of the entire avionics chain of the SOrTeD vehicle to control the entire propulsion system of the vehicle.
According to the start up the customisable two-stage vehicle is capable of taking upto 300 kg to orbits around 700 km above the earth.
Agnibaan can access both low and high inclination orbits and is completely mobile - designed for accessing more than 10 launch ports.
Agnibaan which is Sanskrit word that translates to mean "an arrow of fire" is a customizable vehicle, according to the startup, which signed an agreement with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
In 2021 it successfully fired the single piece 3D printed engine Agnilet and raised USD 11 million series A round from instutuional and angel investors. In 2022 it signed an agreement with IN-SPACe and inaugurated its launchpad and mission control room in Sriharikota. The company received a Flight Termination System from ISRO, marking the first time a PSLV package was delivered for a private vehicle.
ISRO said that establishment of the private launchpad designed and operated by Agnikul marks a significant step in opening the Indian space sector to private players.
The facility, inaugurated on November 25, 2022 by S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space (DOS) comprises a launchpad and a mission control centre.The system is compliant to support liquid stage-controlled launches, monitor key flight safety parameters by ISRO's range operations teams during launches and share the data with ISRO's Mission Control Centre.
During the innaguration Somanath had said that India can travel to space from one more space platform.
Founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM and SR Chakravarthy a professor from IIT Madras, Agnikul aims to make space accessible and affordable and aspires to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of enabling building of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The country's first privately developed rocket Vikram-S was launched in the year 2002 by private company Skyroot Aerospace.