Bengaluru-based Aerospace To Provide 3D-printed Grid Fin For Gaganyaan

Bengaluru-based Ankit Aerospace hints at a new update for Gaganyaan, a mission aimed at enhancing the capability of the country in technology undertaken for scientific human space exploration on Monday.

According to the founder and CEO of Ankit Aerospace, Ankit Patel’s official media statement, the 3D-printed grid fin is likely to undergo a series of strength and tensile tests and if ISRO approves the result, will make four more grid fins from titanium wires.

The grid fin was handed over to ISRO at the Aero India event in Bengaluru and will be used in the crew module sitting right on the rocket’s top, Patel said.

He emphasised in case of an aborted launch, or unpredicted failure with the launch pad, the first priority will be securing the astronauts’ life, thus immediately separating the crew module from the rest of the rocket, pushing it upward 10 to 12 km in the air and coming down safely as the grid fin gets deployed, to provide aerodynamic stability and braking. So that the crew module does not spin out of control, Patel added.

He further stressed, the 3D-printed grid fins differ from traditional casting-made and also reduce the time of production to a matter of weeks from months.

Meanwhile, the company has been developing this grid fin for the last two years but a shortage of titanium internationally delayed the production to 2023.