Author: Sharon Rajapriya P

Do you know? India created history on 30th of May, 2024 by launching the first ever 3d printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine, Agnilet. This mission was executed by a private space startup, AGNIKUL COSMOS. Agnilet, was carried by the space vehicle, Agnibaan, which is derived from the Sanksrit language. The word Agnibaan, translates to ‘an arrow of fire’. Source : INDIA TODAY AGNIKUL COSMOS, is a private Indian based space startup, which was founded and developed at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. They mainly focus on developing practical and affordable rocket machinery, easily accessible and flexible launches. AGNIKUL COSMOS has gained everyone’s attention by becoming the second private based space startup. SKYROOT, a Hyderabad based startup stands first. The goal of the Agnikul Cosmos is reflected in the Agnibaan mission. The flight took off on May 30, 2024, at 7:15 AM from SDSC-SHAR, SriHarikota which is India’s only private launchpad till now. It was originally scheduled on April 7, which got postponed due to few technical issues. The Agnibaan rocket can carry up to a payload of 300kg max. The rocket stands 6.2 metres tall with its engine in a height of 18m and a diameter of 1.3m. The SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator) mission gained a massive attention by demonstrating a nominal performance with a vertical ascent. Agnibaan stands out due to various other reasons which include sophisticated avionics, internal automated pilot, advanced software-based technologies, and its elliptical cone nose. The rocket is propelled by the first ever 3-d printed, semi cryogenic engine. This has opened the paths for rapid developments in the domains of manufacturing and material science. Traditional space craft engines are complex and hard to assemble as they are made up of several tiny individual parts. In addition, they are way more expensive as compared to the traditional ones. Agnilet, stepped up and brought a significant advancement in this specific field. Agnilet, being a one-piece engine with few other parts poses very less threats. It’s also cost effective and simplifies the manufacturing process. The action or process of making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of a material in succession. It is also known as additive manufacturing. This involves breaking down complex structures into simple ones for enhancing efficiency and increase performance in the rocket engine. Agnilet succeeded in implementing the following characteristics as it provides high performance and its economically friendly. It uses liquid oxygen with refined kerosene as its fuel. This project has gained a huge support from the government of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) played a vital role in gaining the audiences and supporters. It is one of the initiatives that aims to promote cooperation between private companies and ISRO. This paves way for individuals and private companies to set their footprint in the space industry. The co-operation for the launch held from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre demonstrated ISRO’s unwavering support for the mission. https://youtu.be/Mz-BHyAmMk4?si=DP15FLRjjDqtoDgE SOURCE : DNAIndiaNews Agnikul Cosmos exhibited excellent technical knowledge and operation systems in executing the mission. From the draft, till the launch, AGNIKUL COSMOS has stood out by executing complex operations in the aerospace industry. This controlled vertical ascension flight's mission objectives were demonstrated successfully. The immense success of AGNIBAAN has expanded the opportunities for the space industry and for themselves. Besides the first 3d printed rocket engine, the private space industry has gained the attention of all. They proved that 3d engines are practical and possible which may lead to frequent launches with these kinds of engines. Applications such as satellite deployment, science research, and even commercial space travel depend on this capability. AGNIKUL COSMOS aims to expand its missions in the upcoming years and a new launch is scheduled for the year 2025. Their long-term goal is to make air travel affordable and easily accessible. This achievement has made the nation pride and marked a footprint for India among the world-wide space industries. India will continue to develop with these new cutting-edge technologies like 3d printing. Congratulations, AGNIKUL COSMOS and team.

Author: Sharon Rajapriya P

NEW MILESTONE: The first 3d printed rocket engine takes flight

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