Agnikul Cosmos Makes History
Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle, Agnibaan SOrTeD, on Thursday.
This marked a significant achievement for India's space sector, with several firsts:
First launch using a private launchpad set up by the company.
World's first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine.
First-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine made via additive manufacturing.
It is Two stage
The engine—called Agnilet—uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Cryogenic engines, such as the one used in the upper stages of India’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM3, use gases liquified at extremely low temperatures as fuel.
What is Additive Manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer. This is unlike traditional manufacturing methods that involve removing material from a solid block to create the desired shape.
Benefits of 3D-Printed Engine
The 3D-printed engine is expected to:
Reduce launch costs.
Shorten vehicle assembly time.
Enable rapid rocket assembly.
Agnikul's Future Goals
The company aims to offer affordable launch services for small satellites.
They plan to conduct their first orbital launch by the end of the financial year, followed by regular launches in the next calendar year
Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator)
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