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The Chennai-headquartered space start-up Agnikul Cosmos Private Ltd. launched the world’s first rocket — Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) — with a single-piece 3D-printed engine from Sriharikota
Agnibaan SOrTeD is India’s first launch from a private launchpad, called ‘Dhanush’, established by Agnikul.
It is also India’s first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch and the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed engine designed and built indigenously.
Agnibaan SOrTeD
The Agnibaan SOrTeD is a customisable launch vehicle powered by AgniKul’s patented Agnilet engine.
Agnilet, is a 3D-printed, 6 kilonewton (kN) semi-cryogenic engine that uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants.
Unlike traditional sounding rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will take off vertically and follow a predetermined trajectory, executing precisely orchestrated maneuvers during its flight.
It is capable of carrying payloads up to 100 kg to an altitude of 700 km in five different configurations.
The key purpose of this mission is to serve as a test flight, to demonstrate in - house and home - grown technologies, gather crucial flight data and ensure optimal functioning of systems for Agnikul’s orbital launch vehicle, the ‘Agnibaan’.
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