The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday announced a significant milestone for private space ventures in India as Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched its Agnibaan rocket. This achievement marks the second test flight of a private Indian launch vehicle, following the Vikram-S launch by Skyroot Aerospace in November 2022. The Agnibaan rocket's journey was not without challenges as Agnikul Cosmos initially attempted to launch the Suborbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) test flight two days prior. However, these attempts were aborted twice due to irregularities detected during the pre-launch procedures.
Despite these setbacks, the successful launch underscores the growing capabilities and contributions of private companies to India's burgeoning space sector. "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 wrote on its official X account.
Where the launch took place?
According to details, the launch took place at the Agnikul Launch Pad 1 (ALP-1) located at ISRO’s spaceport in Sriharikota. In anticipation of this event and future operations, Agnikul Cosmos established its own launch pad and mission control center in 2022. These state-of-the-art facilities are anticipated to be available for use by other private launch service providers in the future, fostering a collaborative environment within India's private space industry. Unlike the previous launch attempt, this event was not livestreamed by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), marking a shift in the public engagement strategy for this particular mission.
PM Modi reacts
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reacted to the development and termed it a remarkable feat which will make the entire nation proud. "The successful launch of Agnibaan rocket powered by world’s first single-piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine is a momentous occasion for India’s space sector and a testament to the remarkable ingenuity of our Yuva Shakti," he posted on X. "My best wishes to the @AgnikulCosmos team for their future endeavours," the PM added.
Aim of the mission
The Agnibaan rocket employed thrust vectoring through its gimballed motors to control its vertical ascent, ultimately reaching an altitude of eight kilometers before splashing down in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 30 kilometers from the launch pad. This mission was a test flight designed to evaluate the capabilities of the launch vehicle, and it carried no payload. The rocket featured the groundbreaking Agnilet engine, the world’s first single-unit 3D-printed engine. Remarkably, this innovative engine can be produced within three days, enabling Agnikul Cosmos to potentially offer on-demand launches from various locations.
Following liftoff, the rocket executed a slight pitchover maneuver during the initial phase of the flight, followed by a wing biasing maneuver approximately 40 seconds after launch. These maneuvers were conducted to test the rocket’s control systems, including its autopilot functionality. About 70 seconds into the flight, the avionics systems were tested while the vehicle maintained its trajectory. The rocket then reached its apogee, the highest point of its flight, before tumbling down into the Bay of Bengal. This sequence of events provided crucial data to validate the performance and reliability of the Agnibaan rocket's systems.
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