India's spacetech startup 'Agnikul Cosmos' achieved a great feat on 30 May. Agnikul has launched its 'Agnibaan' rocket for the first time. This is India's only rocket engine that uses both gas and liquid fuel. The mission of the rocket launched by Agnikul is known as 'Agnibaan (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator) SoRTed-01'.
The spacetech startup had tried to launch the Agnibaan rocket four times before, but it could not happen. However, finally Agnibaan was launched from Sriharikota. Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar congratulated the team and said that Agnibaan is a single-stage rocket that works on a semi-cryogenic engine. It has been prepared in India and its assembly has been done at Agnikul's facility in IIT Madras.
At the same time, 'Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)' has congratulated Agnikul Cosmos for the successful launch of Agnibaan rocket. ISRO has described the launch as a big success. ISRO said, "Congratulations to Agnikul Cosmos for the successful launch of Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from its launch pad. A major success has been achieved in the form of the first controlled flight of semi-cryogenic liquid engine through additive manufacturing."
The Agnibaan rocket reaching the sky is very special for India. Where till now the responsibility of rocket launching was on the shoulders of ISRO. But now private players have also started taking steps in this direction. Agnikul Cosmos is one such company. The rocket launch is also special because for this Agnikul used its data acquisition system and flight computers, which have been 100 percent prepared by the company itself.
Not only this, but this test also shows the ability of the entire avionics chain of the SOrTeD vehicle to control the vehicle's propulsion system. The Agnibaan rocket can carry a payload of 300 kg to an orbit up to a height of 700 km. The launch of the Agnibaan rocket is the world's first flight with a single piece 3D printed rocket engine. It also shows India's growing strength in the space sector.
