In a groundbreaking achievement for Bharat’s private space industry, Agnikul Cosmos has successfully launched the SOrTeD mission, showcasing the country’s first-ever single-stage launch vehicle demonstration powered by a semi-cryogenic 3D-printed engine.
Lasting approximately two minutes, this milestone launch not only signifies a major accomplishment for Agnikul Cosmos but also represents a significant stride forward for India in the development of indigenous space technology.
ISRO has extended its congratulations to the Chennai-based space start-up, acknowledging the launch as a “major milestone” in the industry’s progress.
“Congratulations Agnikul Cosmos 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,” tweeted ISRO.
Originally slated for liftoff on April 7, the SOrTeD mission overcame technical glitches and finally soared from India’s first private launchpad, ALP-01, situated at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Featuring a 6.2-meter-tall single-stage launch vehicle equipped with an elliptical nose cone and advanced in-house-developed avionics architecture and autopilot software, the mission showcased precision and innovation.
At its core was the Agnilet engine, the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine, driving the vehicle through a series of precise maneuvers, including a pitch-over maneuver and wind biasing, before gracefully descending into the Bay of Bengal.
This successful launch marks a significant step forward for Agnikul Cosmos, positioning the company strategically in the multi-billion-dollar small satellite launch market.
Moreover, the data gathered from the SOrTeD mission will play a crucial role in refining the development of the Agnibaan launch vehicle, anticipated to be highly customizable and capable of carrying a 300kg payload to a 700km orbit.
