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IIT-Madras Startup Agnikul Cosmos to Launch Small Satellite Rocket in August 2023
Agnikul Cosmos, a space tech startup based at IIT-Madras, is preparing to launch its small satellite rocket. The integration process of its launch vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator), with its private launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota began on August 15, 2023.
Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by Agnikul’s patented Agnilet engine. This engine is a fully 3D-printed, single-piece, 6kN semi-cryogenic engine. Unlike traditional sounding rockets, Agnibaan SOrTeD will lift off vertically and follow a predetermined trajectory while executing a series of maneuvers during flight. These flight events will validate key technologies necessary for future orbital flights.
Agnikul plans to conduct its first flight in the coming weeks. A. Rajarajan, Director of SDSC-SHAR, expressed his delight in seeing the progress Agnikul has made so far. Agnikul’s rocket launch is seen as a crucial trial for assessing the launchpad’s readiness for more ambitious missions.
Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul, stated that this suborbital mission will serve as a validation of the company’s autopilot, navigation, and guidance algorithms. It will also test the launchpad’s preparedness for future endeavors. Agnikul’s mission control center is located near the historic SLV launch complex, where India’s first orbital flight was achieved.
Established in 2017, Agnikul Cosmos aims to democratize space exploration by making it accessible and cost-effective. The company signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in December 2020, allowing them access to ISRO’s expertise and cutting-edge facilities. Agnikul inaugurated India’s first launchpad and mission control center at Satish Dhawan Space Centre on November 25, 2022, which will serve as the base for their suborbital and orbital missions in the future.
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