Why in news?

 Chennai-based space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos has launched India’s first private launchpad and mission control centre at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota.

Highlights:

• The facility was inaugurated by ISRO chairman S Somanath
• The startup, incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, also plans to launch its customisable Agnibaan rocket from the launchpad
• Executed : With Support of ISRO and IN-SPACe
• The facility has two sections the Agnikul Launchpad (ALP) and the Agnikul Mission Control Center (AMCC).
• ISRO operates two launchpad at the SDSC.
• Agnikul’s first launch from this pad will be a controlled and guided mission. It will have a vertical launch using its patented engine
• The launchpad is specifically built keeping in mind the ability to support liquid stage controlled launches, also addressing the need for ISRO’s range operations team to monitor key flight safety parameters during launches.
• It has the ability to, as necessary, share data and other critical information with ISRO’s Mission Control Center

Agnibaan

• It is a highly customisable two-stage launch vehicle capable of taking up to 100 kg payload to orbits around 700-km high and enables plug-and-play configuration.
• It is capable of placing a 100 kg satellite into a 700 km orbit.
• The rocket is supposed to be manufactured by 3D printing as a whole.
• Three stage rocket
• It will use clustered engines on first stage in various configurations depending upon the payload and will only use LOX and Kerosene based engines.
• “Dhanush” – the launch pedestal is being designed to support full mobility across all configurations of Agnibaan.

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited

• It is an Indian aerospace manufacturer based in National Center for Combustion R&D (NCRD) of IIT Madras, Chennai.
• The start-up aims to develop and launch its own small-lift launch vehicle such as the Agnibaan
• It has received investment from personal capacity of Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group
• A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was signed with Department of Space to obtain government’s technological assistance in development of launch vehicles

• It test fired its semi-cryogenic rocket engine Agnilet which will power second stage of its rocket Agnibaan