Chennai start-up makes history with groundbreaking Rocket achievement

Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited successfully launched its first rocket, Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on Thursday, May 30. This milestone marks a significant achievement after multiple postponements.

At 8:12 am, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the launch on X, stating: “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.”

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.@INSPACeIND

— ISRO (@isro) May 30, 2024

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), also congratulated Agnikul Cosmos on X: “Heartiest Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos for the successful launch of the Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad at SDSC. This is the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through 3D manufacturing.”

Heartiest Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos for the successful launch of the Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad at SDSC.
This is the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through 3D manufacturing.@isro @GoenkaPk

— IN-SPACe (@INSPACeIND) May 30, 2024

The IIT-Madras incubated startup initially planned the launch for April 7 but had to postpone it 129 seconds before liftoff due to technical glitches. On the same day, Agnikul Cosmos posted on X: “Had to call off today’s launch attempt of Agnibaan SOrTeD just a second into Automated Launch Sequence (ALS) initiation (at T-129 seconds) because of a communication issue between two of our onboard hardware. Although it is frustrating to see a HOLD this close to liftoff, we are glad that our ALS did its job. We’ll get to the root cause and come back for launch after fixing the issue. Thank you for the support as always.”

Agnibaan SOrTeD is India’s first launch from a private launchpad, featuring the country’s first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket and the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine, designed and built indigenously.

Founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM, and Satya Chakravarthy, Agnikul Cosmos became the first company in India to sign an agreement with ISRO under the IN-SPACe initiative, granting access to the space agency’s expertise and facilities to build Agnibaan in December 2020.

Lt. Gen. A.K. Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of the Indian Space Association (IspA), praised the achievement: “What Agnikul has achieved today is nothing short of a historical milestone since India launched its maiden rocket in 1963 from Thumba launch station. Agnibaan SOrTeD has many firsts: 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.”

He added that this significant launch, alongside the recently introduced guidelines for the Indian Space Policy 2023 by IN-SPACe and new FDI regulations, will undoubtedly boost global confidence in India’s private space industry and its growing capabilities.