NEW DELHI: From an idea conceptualised at
IIT-Madras
to a full-fledged
startup
,
AgniKul
Cosmos Private Ltd has come a long way in the space world.
The desi startup, which launched the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine and first semi-cryogenic engine on Thursday, was incubated at the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development on the premises of IIT-Madras.
Founded in 2017 by IIT graduates
Srinath Ravichandran
, Moin SPM and professor Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, AgniKul aimed to make space accessible and affordable and aspired to support PM Modi's vision of enabling building of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The startup started its space journey with a seed funding of Rs 3 crore with an aim to build and launch its first rocket in 2021 and develop the ability to provide launch service for satellites weighing up to 100 kg. Till the end of 2020, the company was able to raise almost $4 million. In October 2023, AgniKul received a financial boost when it raised $26.7 million in a Series B funding round, bringing the total capital raised since its inception to $40 million.
In Feb 2021, the startup test-fired its semi-cryogenic rocket engine Agnilet to be used in the second stage of its rocket ‘Agnibaan’ (meaning Arrow of Fire). The engine was developed in single-piece through 3D printing with no assembled parts. The company holds the patent for the engine’s design and manufacturing, and its first dedicated factory to manufacture a large number of 3D-printed rocket engines is in IIT Madras Research Park.
In Sept 2021, the space startup signed a framework agreement with the Department of Space for access to Isro facilities and technical expertise for the development of its two-stage small-satellite Agnibaan launch vehicle. On Nov 7, 2022, Agnikul bought its first Flight Termination System from Isro.
Gaining small victories to achieve its bigger objective, the startup’s Agnilet engine was successfully test-fired on Nov 8, 2022 for a few seconds on Vertical Test Facility, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at Isro’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to validate the design and manufacturing methodology used in the development process.
A big breakthrough came for the startup when it inaugurated its first private launchpad and mission control centre at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota on Nov 28, 2022. The launchpad and the mission control centre are 4 kms apart.
On Feb 7, 2023, flight acceptance test of Angilet for Agnikul's controlled sub-orbital flight was successfully conducted. In this particular test, engine was fired over and above the mission burn time as required for flight acceptance.
After four unsuccessful attempts, AgniKul achieved a historic milestone on Thursday when it was finally able to launch the world’s first
3D printed rocket engine
but without any live-streaming and in presence of fewer dignitaries at its own private launchpad. After the successful launch, Prof S R Chakravarthy, founding adviser, AgniKul Cosmos, and also the head of NCCRD, said, “We are proud to present India's first semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the world's most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled.”
AgniKul has now spread its wings for a long flight to space.
English (US) ·