Agnikul triumph: Indian space tech start-up’s second privately-built rocket takes flight

After overcoming several challenges, space tech start-up Agnikul Cosmos achieved a significant milestone on May 30 by successfully launching its first rocket, Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Technological Demonstrator), from its private launchpad within the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. 

Agnibaan SOrTeD is India’s second privately-built rocket and boasts several groundbreaking features. 

It is the first rocket to be launched from a private launch pad, utilizes the country’s first semi-cryogenic engine flight, and features the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine, designed and built indigenously.

The Agnibaan’s inaugural flight had been postponed four times in the last two months due to technical issues. The most recent cancellation occurred on Tuesday when the launch was aborted just five seconds before liftoff. 

On Thursday, the customisable two-stage launch vehicle, designed to carry a payload of up to 300 kg (661 lb) into an orbit of about 700 kilometers’ altitude (435 miles), flew for two minutes to a maximum altitude, or apogee, of 8,076 meters before splashing down into the ocean.

The primary objective of this suborbital flight was to gather critical flight data and ensure optimal system performance for Agnikul’s two-stage orbital launch vehicle, Agnibaan. Standing at 18 meters tall, Agnibaan is specifically designed for small satellites and can carry payloads of up to 300 kg into a 700 km low earth orbit. 

Agnikul Cosmos confirmed that all mission objectives were met during this controlled vertical ascent flight, and performance remained nominal. 

The company stated, ‘All the mission objectives of this controlled vertical ascent flight were met and performance was nominal.’

The South Asian nation’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has not successfully flown a rocket with a ‘semi-cryogenic’ engine. 

‘A major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing,’ ISRO said on the social media platform X. 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) congratulated Agnikul Cosmos on this achievement. In a statement, ISRO highlighted the significance of this launch as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing.

The suborbital flight on Thursday was meant to test the new engine and 3D-printed parts. Pawan K Goenka, chairman of space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), also hailed the ‘historic moment.’ 

The Indian Space Association (ISpA) said the launch would ‘bolster global confidence’ in the country’s private space industry. 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for the privatization and commercialization of the country’s space sector in the last few years. India’s first privately developed rocket, from the company Skyroot, flew in 2022.

Agnikul, whose name is derived from the Hindi and Sanskrit word for fire, was founded in 2017 and operates India’s first private launchpad and mission control center. All other launchpads are operated by ISRO. 

Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, emphasized that this successful launch motivates ISRO to continue supporting space startups and non-governmental entities, fostering innovation and self-reliance in India’s space ecosystem. 

The Indian Space Association (ISpA) hailed Agnikul’s accomplishment as a historical milestone, drawing parallels to India’s maiden rocket launch in 1963 from the Thumba launch station. Lt. Gen. A.K. Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of ISpA, expressed pride in the thriving private space industry and extended best wishes to the entire Agnikul team.

This achievement, combined with the recently introduced guidelines for implementing the Indian Space Policy 2023 by IN-SPACe and new FDI regulations, will undoubtedly enhance global confidence in India’s private space industry and its growing capabilities. 

Founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM, and Satya Chakravarthy, Agnikul Cosmos became the first Indian company to sign an agreement with ISRO under the IN-SPACe initiative. 

The flagship launch vehicle, ‘Agnibaan,’ is designed to be compatible with the mobile launchpad called ‘Dhanush,’ allowing for launch flexibility regardless of location. 

Agnibaan’s payload capacity ranges from 30 kg to 300 kg, ensuring versatility for various mission requirements. 

Agnikul Cosmos aims to conduct an orbital mission by the end of the 2025 financial year and is actively collaborating with customers for regular flights starting in the same calendar year.