Indian aerospace startup, Agnikul Cosmos, has announced its much-anticipated launch window for the Agnibaan rocket, a 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic marvel. Set to blast off from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre between May 28th and June 5th, this event comes after a series of postponements due to technical glitches.
The Chennai-based company took to social media platform X, stating "NOTAM issued. It is launch time." This marks India's second foray into private rocket launches, following Skyroot Aerospace's successful Vikram-S launch in November 2022.
Agnikul's Agnibaan is a customizable, two-stage launch vehicle designed to carry payloads of up to 300 kg into a 700 km orbit. Notably, it features a semi-cryogenic engine combining liquid and gas propellants, a technology yet to be demonstrated by ISRO.
The upcoming launch, part of the Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) mission, will showcase a single-stage vehicle powered by the indigenously developed Agnilet engine. This sub-cooled liquid oxygen-based propulsion system is further equipped with four carbon composite fins for passive control.
While the mission is expected to be brief, lasting just over two minutes from launch to splashdown, it will involve complex maneuvers like a pitch-over and wind-biasing to test the rocket's capabilities.
Agnikul had previously attempted the launch on April 7th, but a communication issue between onboard hardware caused an automatic abort 92 seconds before liftoff. The company, incubated at IIT Chennai, has expressed confidence in resolving the problem and proceeding with the launch within the designated window.
This launch represents a significant step forward for India's private space sector, showcasing the potential of innovative technologies like 3D printing and semi-cryogenic propulsion. The success of Agnikul's Agnibaan could pave the way for more ambitious projects and further solidify India's position in the global space race.
