On May 30, 2024, India’s space sector achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of Agnibaan, a two-stage orbital launch vehicle developed by Agnikul, a startup incubated at IIT Madras. This innovative launch vehicle is powered by India’s first patented Single-Piece 3D-printed Semi-Cryogenic Engines, a technological marvel developed and incubated at IIT Madras.
Agnikul, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed a range of technologies that improve the reliability of space engines and speed up their manufacturing, making space missions more accessible. The startup’s Agnibaan SOrTeD mission, launched from India’s first private launchpad at SDSC SHAR, demonstrated the capabilities of their single-stage vehicle propelled by a semi-cryogenic pressure-fed engine.
The National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) at IIT Madras, supported by DST, played a crucial role in the development of Agnikul’s technologies. NCCRD is the world’s largest combustion research center, working on various projects, including aerospace propulsion. Agnikul’s partnership with Pravartak Technologies, another DST-funded Technology Innovation Hub, enabled the commercialization of their technologies for space and deep space applications.
Agnikul’s groundbreaking achievement is the development of an engine that assembles individual components, making it unique and reliable. The engine is manufactured with high-grade aerospace materials using additive manufacturing technology at the Agnikul Rocket Factory – 01, inaugurated in 2022.
The DST’s support for Agnikul has enabled the startup to establish India’s first private launchpad and Mission Control Centre at Sriharikota range. Agnikul’s autopilot software ensures that the vehicle remains on the mission path, despite external factors. The launch vehicle, Agnibaan, is India’s first to use electric drive propulsion, making it a significant technological advancement.
The successful launch of Agnibaan marks several firsts, including the world’s first flight with a single-piece patented rocket engine, India’s first semi-cryogenic engine flight, and the first controlled ascent flight from India. Agnikul’s achievement paves the way for more frequent and cost-effective space missions, positioning India as a commercial hub in the space sector.
