Agnikul Cosmos, an innovative space startup, successfully launched its Agnibaan rocket yesterday, marking a significant milestone as only the second private sector company in India to do so. The Agnibaan, Agnikul’s debut rocket, is entirely powered by Indian-made engines utilizing both liquid fuel and gas, making this a moment of national pride.
The inaugural flight of the Agnibaan rocket faced numerous challenges, having been postponed four times in the past two months due to technical difficulties. The latest delay occurred just five seconds before the scheduled lift-off on Tuesday. Despite these setbacks, the mission achieved a critical breakthrough. ISRO highlighted this success on X, noting, “A major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing.”
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar extended his congratulations to Agnikul Cosmos for their successful launch from India’s only private launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota. He shared on X, “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.”
Agnibaan is a versatile, two-stage launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 300 kg (661 lb) into orbit approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) above the Earth. Powered by LOX/Kerosene engines in all stages, Agnibaan can be tailored to specific mission requirements, satellite needs, and launch ports. Thursday’s suborbital flight aimed to test the new engine and 3D-printed components, although details on the duration of the test and the altitude reached have not been disclosed by the company.
Pawan K. Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe, hailed the launch as a “historic moment.” The Indian Space Association (ISpA) emphasized that this achievement would enhance global confidence in India’s burgeoning private space industry. This move towards privatization and commercialization aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the country’s space sector. Founded in 2017, Agnikul operates India’s first private launchpad and mission control center, separate from those managed by ISRO. This launch follows India’s remarkable space achievements in 2023, including the Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing and the Aditya-L1 solar mission.