Agnikul Cosmos Successfully Launches Agnibaan SoRTed-01 After Many Hiccups

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Thursday that Agnikul Cosmos has successfully launched the Agnibaan (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator) SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad.

Terming the launch 'a major milestone', ISRO also congratulated Agnikul Cosmos for this achievement.

"Congratulations, @AgnikulCosmos, for the successful launch of the Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad. A major milestone as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realised through additive manufacturing," ISRO posted on X.
This engine test is powered by Agnikul's own data acquisition systems and flight computers, which were 100 per cent designed in-house.

Moreover, this test also proves the capability of the entire avionics chain of the SOrTeD vehicle to control the entire propulsion system of the vehicle.

Capable of taking up to 300 kg to orbits around 700 km high, Agnibaan can access both low and high-inclination orbits and is completely mobile - designed for accessing more than 10 launch ports.

Driven by LOX/Kerosene engines in all its stages, Agnibaan is configurable by the customer. The mission, the satellite and the launch port itself would decide how many engines go on the first stage.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also congratulated Agnikul Cosmos for successfully completing its first launch from Agnikul's own and India's only private launchpad within Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.

"Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos @iitmadras Agnikul successfully completed its first launch from Agnikul's own & India's only private Launchpad within SDSC-SHAR. Besides being the world's first flight with a single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, this controlled flight is also India's first flight with a semi-cryogenic engine. The vehicle was completely designed in-house in India and assembled at Agnikul's facilities within IIT Madras," Chandrasekhar posted on X.

Agnibaan SOrTeD has got many firsts in its strides with being India’s first launch from a private launchpad, the first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch and the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine designed and built indigenously. This is a huge boost and a proud moment for India’s thriving private space industry and just a glimpse into what the future holds for us. This significant launch, coupled with the recently introduced guidelines for the implementation of the Indian Space Policy 2023 by IN-SPACe and the new FDI regulations, will undoubtedly bolster global confidence in India's private space industry and its growing capabilities,” said Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA).

In 2023, in a stellar display of prowess, India soared to new heights with the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon and the successful launch of Aditya-L1, India's first solar mission.

These milestones not only secured India's standing in the global space economy but also fueled the engines for the private space sector in India.

Among other feats, India now aims to set up 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station' by 2035 and send the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.