New Delhi, Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully executed the well-orbiting test flight of its home-made 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket – Agnibaan – from its own launch pad in Sriharikota. This is the second private institute in India to do so.
After four failed attempts, the test-flight on Thursday was conducted without any live-streaming and in the presence of a few dignitaries at the Sriharikota launch pad located within ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
"Congratulations to @AgniculCosmos for the successful launch of Agniba SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad. A major milestone, first controlled flight of semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing," ISRO said in a post ." Hui. ." On X.
"Excited by the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgniculCosmos! Historic moment for India's space sector. Powered by the world's first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement reflects the brilliance of our young innovators," Pawan Goenka , Chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACE) said
This was the fifth attempt by Agnikul to launch the Agnibaan Sub-Orbit Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) since March 22.
Lieutenant General AK Bhatt said, “This is a great encouragement and proud moment for India's thriving private space industry and a glimpse of what the future holds for us.Our hearty congratulations to the entire team behind this and best wishes for their future endeavours,” said the (retd) Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISPA).
According to the company, Agnibaan is a customizable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry a payload of up to 300 kg to an orbit of about 700 km.
The rocket uses a semi-cryogenic engine with a mixture of liquid and gas propellant, a technology that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has not yet featured in any of its rockets.
The SOrTeD mission is a single-stage launch vehicle demonstration that will be powered by an indigenously developed semi-cryogenic engine, Agnilet, a sub-cooled liquid oxygen-based propulsion system.The start-up has equipped the vehicle with India's first Ethernet-based avionic architecture and completely in-house developed autopilot software. Powered by sub-cooled liquid oxygen (LOX) and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), the vehicle is equipped with four carbon engines. Blended fins to provide passive control.
The Agnilet engine is the world's first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine.
The mission will last just over two minutes from launch to splashdown.After takeoff, the vehicle is expected to perform a pitch-over maneuver approximately four seconds into flight.
This maneuver involves a controlled rotation of the vehicle to change its orientation from vertical to a predetermined angle with respect to the ground on the vehicle's flight path. The vehicle will then go into a wind-biased maneuver in just 3 seconds, which is introduced to compensate for the effect of wind on the rocket's trajectory during ascent to the rocket.
At 1 minute 29 seconds, the launch vehicle is expected to reach its apogee, the point where it will be farthest from the launch site, before it touches down just two minutes into the flight, marking mission completion..is a symbol.
After four failed attempts, the test-flight on Thursday was conducted without any live-streaming and in the presence of a few dignitaries at the Sriharikota launch pad located within ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
"Congratulations to @AgniculCosmos for the successful launch of Agniba SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad. A major milestone, first controlled flight of semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing," ISRO said in a post ." Hui. ." On X.
"Excited by the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by @AgniculCosmos! Historic moment for India's space sector. Powered by the world's first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement reflects the brilliance of our young innovators," Pawan Goenka , Chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACE) said
This was the fifth attempt by Agnikul to launch the Agnibaan Sub-Orbit Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) since March 22.
Lieutenant General AK Bhatt said, “This is a great encouragement and proud moment for India's thriving private space industry and a glimpse of what the future holds for us.Our hearty congratulations to the entire team behind this and best wishes for their future endeavours,” said the (retd) Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISPA).
According to the company, Agnibaan is a customizable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry a payload of up to 300 kg to an orbit of about 700 km.
The rocket uses a semi-cryogenic engine with a mixture of liquid and gas propellant, a technology that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has not yet featured in any of its rockets.
The SOrTeD mission is a single-stage launch vehicle demonstration that will be powered by an indigenously developed semi-cryogenic engine, Agnilet, a sub-cooled liquid oxygen-based propulsion system.The start-up has equipped the vehicle with India's first Ethernet-based avionic architecture and completely in-house developed autopilot software. Powered by sub-cooled liquid oxygen (LOX) and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), the vehicle is equipped with four carbon engines. Blended fins to provide passive control.
The Agnilet engine is the world's first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine.
The mission will last just over two minutes from launch to splashdown.After takeoff, the vehicle is expected to perform a pitch-over maneuver approximately four seconds into flight.
This maneuver involves a controlled rotation of the vehicle to change its orientation from vertical to a predetermined angle with respect to the ground on the vehicle's flight path. The vehicle will then go into a wind-biased maneuver in just 3 seconds, which is introduced to compensate for the effect of wind on the rocket's trajectory during ascent to the rocket.
At 1 minute 29 seconds, the launch vehicle is expected to reach its apogee, the point where it will be farthest from the launch site, before it touches down just two minutes into the flight, marking mission completion..is a symbol.
