Indian company Agnikul Cosmos is poised to achieve a groundbreaking feat by becoming the country’s first private entity to design, develop, and launch a liquid-fuelled rocket, “Agnibaan SOrTeD.” The liquid-fuelled rockets are intricate and challenging to create compared to solid-fuelled ones. Agnikul aims to launch this maiden rocket in the coming weeks, designed for suborbital missions to validate their technology. The rocket features an innovative 3D-printed, single-piece, semi-cryogenic engine and aims to test Agnikul’s autopilot, navigation algorithms, and launchpad capabilities. Established in 2017, Agnikul seeks to democratize space exploration by making it accessible and cost-effective.
Prelims pointer
- Liquid-Fuelled Rocket: A rocket that uses liquid propellants for propulsion, requiring sophisticated engineering due to the complexities involved in managing and controlling the liquid fuels.
- Suborbital Launch: A type of launch that takes a vehicle into the upper atmosphere without reaching orbit around the Earth.
- Agnibaan SOrTeD: The name of Agnikul’s maiden rocket, “SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator,” designed for suborbital missions and validation of key technologies.
- Agnilet Engine: A patented 3D-printed, single-piece, semi-cryogenic rocket engine developed by Agnikul for their launch vehicle.
- ISRO: The Indian Space Research Organisation, India’s national space agency, known for its space exploration and satellite programs.
