Agnikul Cosmos achieved a major milestone in India’s private space industry with the successful launch of its SOrTeD mission. The single-stage launch vehicle demonstration, powered by a semi-cryogenic 3D-printed engine, lasted approximately two minutes and showcased the company’s advancement in indigenous space technology.
ISRO praised the Chennai-based space start-up for the achievement, calling it “a major milestone”. The launch took place from India’s first private launchpad, ALP-01, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission featured a 6.2-meter-tall single-stage launch vehicle with advanced avionics architecture and autopilot software developed in-house.
The Agnilet engine, the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine, powered the vehicle through a series of precise manoeuvres before splashing down in the Bay of Bengal. This successful launch signifies a significant advancement for Agnikul Cosmos in the small satellite launch market, with the data gathered from the mission aiding in the further development of the Agnibaan launch vehicle.