AgniKul Universe, an IIT Madras-incubated start-up successfully launched the world’s first rocket propelled by a single-piece 3D printed engine on Thursday.
The first privately owned Indian ascent vehicle named “Agnibaan – Suborbital Technology Demonstrator”(SorTeD) took off at 7:15 A.M. from India’s initial private launch pad called Dhanush, thus marking the country’s foremost semi-cryogenic engine-driven missile test.
On two occasions in the last two months the company had to cancel missions just minutes before a scheduled lift-off — April 7th and May 28th. Its maiden flight demonstrated indigenous technologies, collected critical flight data as well as validated systems’ optimal functioning for future orbital launch vehicle Agnibaan.
Thousands of hours of inspection and hard work by the team had finally culminated into this moment according to Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder and CEO of Agniku. The success of this project is attributed to unwavering support by the company’s advisors, investors, suppliers, customers and well-wishers said Moin SPM Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer.
Unlike normal rockets that are fired from rails; SorTeD starts vertically then follows a pre-determined trajectory including various pre-planned maneuvers throughout its journey.
“The Ministry of Space and Indian Space Research Organization congratulate Agniku”, said S. Somanath Chairman Yisro. This achievement has seen several firsts which include 3-D printing of cryogenic semi engines; introducing flight control system; showing Indigenous Capability in Design And Innovation.”It is also inspiring ISRO To encourage innovation through space start-ups and private sector entities for creating a strong space ecosystem in India”.
Team Agnicour has over 200 engineers being mentored by forty-five former scientists who worked with Isro. While launching India’s maiden semi-cryogenic engine for rockets and the world’s most integrated single-shot 3D printed part, Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, Agnikul’s founding advisor from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) expressed his pride in launching the company. “It demonstrates unprecedented ability to rapidly put together rockets.”
Start-ups are no more limited to the sky as said by V Kamakoti, IITM director. “Today’s very innovative technology at its core displayed by Agniku which is a first in the world is a great inspiration to all young students to go forward with entrepreneurship and become employers,” Kamakoti asserted.
This achievement takes AgniKu one step closer to test-flying their flagship launch vehicle called Agnibaan which is an extremely customisable two-stage rocket. “It can also fit on Dhanush mobile launch pad thereby enabling flexibility for location-independent launching and payloads ranging from 30 kg up to 300 kg,” noted AgniKul.
By end of financial year 2024-25 they expect to start orbital missions and regular customer flights beginning from 2025.
Apart from being India’s first semi-cryogenic engine powered rocket launch and using an inaugural single-piece 3D-printed engine, SorTeD achieved another milestone- November 25th at ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota. It has two parts: Agniku Launch Pad(ALP) & Agniku Mission Control Center(AMCC), designed and built for making it reliable, repeatable, consistent process while their connection system is intended to ensure total operation during countdown since the two sectors are separated by four kilometers.
Chairman of IN-SPACE, Pawan Goenka said that “SorTeD’s triumphant launch is not just a milestone for Agnikul, but it also represents a significant point in time where private entities can play their part in the development of Indian aerospace industry.” “IN-SPACE is committed to supporting all these young pioneers who have helped India take a leadership position in global space.
