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Indian space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos, based at IIT-Madras, is preparing to launch its small satellite rocket. On August 15, 2023, Agnikul began integrating its launch vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator), with its private launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota.

Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by Agnikul’s patented Agnilet engine. This engine is unique as it is entirely 3D-printed and made from a single piece, with a 6 kN semi-cryogenic engine. Unlike traditional sounding rockets, Agnibaan SOrTeD will lift off vertically and follow a specific trajectory while conducting a set of maneuvers during flight. These flight events are crucial for testing and validating key technologies for Agnikul’s future orbital flights.

Agnikul aims to complete its first flight in the upcoming weeks. A. Rajarajan, Director of SDSC-SHAR, expressed his support for Agnikul and wished them success. The company’s first suborbital mission serves as a validation of their proprietary autopilot, navigation, and guidance algorithms, as well as a test for the launchpad’s readiness for future endeavors.

The mission control center for Agnikul is located near the historic SLV launch complex, where India’s first orbital flight led by Dr. APJ Kalam Sir took place. Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul, highlighted the team’s excitement as their vehicle was placed on the launchpad, ready for its journey to the skies.

Agnikul was established in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin S.P.M., and Professor S.R. Chakravarthy with the goal of democratizing space exploration and making it more accessible and cost-effective. The company signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in December 2020, granting them unprecedented access to ISRO’s expertise and facilities. Agnikul inaugurated its launchpad and mission control center at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in November 2022, which will serve as the base for their suborbital and orbital missions in the future.

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