NEWS – Agnikul Launches India’s Second Privately-Built Rocket ‘Agnibaan SOrTeD’  from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota.

BACKGROUND:

• Agnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based space tech start-up incubated by IIT Madras, successfully launched its first rocket.
• This was their fifth attempt after four previous failures.

FIRSTS ACHIEVED WITH AGNIBAAN SORTED

• Private Launch Pad:
  • First rocket launched from a private launch pad.
• Technological Innovations:
  • India’s first semi-cryogenic engine flight.
  • World’s first single-piece 3D printed engine designed and built indigenously.
• Manufacturing Advancements:
  • 3D printing reduces launch costs and assembly time.
  • Plans for orbital missions by the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
  • Regular flights anticipated from the 2025 calendar year.

AGNIBAAN ROCKET CAPABILITIES

• Design and Compatibility:
  • Compatible with the mobile launchpad, ‘Dhanush,’ for flexible launch locations.
  • Configurable to accommodate payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.
• Mission Objectives:
  • Designed for small satellites.
  • Can launch payloads of up to 300 kg into a 700 km low earth orbit.