Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic Agnibaan rocket after previous four attempts had been called off. The Agnilet engine is the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine.“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 realized through additive manufacturing,” ISRO posted on X.
The first attempt was made on March 22 this year and was abandoned during countdown. The SOrTeD mission finally took off from India’s first private launchpad, ALP-01, located at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission, which lasted approximately two minutes, is said to have marked a major achievement for the company and the country in the development of indigenous space technology.
Agnibaan is a customisable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry a payload of up to 300 kg into orbit of about 700 km, according to CNBCTV18. The rocket used a semi-cryogenic engine with a mix of liquid and gas propellants, a technology that is yet to be demonstrated by the ISRO in any of its rockets.
