Agnikul’s maiden test launch of Agnibaan Sorted mission postponed

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space sector

Context:

The Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator) was scheduled for a test-fire on Friday from a dedicated launch pad at Sriharikota.

More on news:

The much-anticipated launch of the Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket by Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos has been postponed.
Agnikul Cosmos has been at the forefront of India’s burgeoning private space sector

About Agnibaan:

The Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator) was scheduled for a test-fire on Friday from a dedicated launch pad at Sriharikota.
This mission was set to mark several firsts for India – it would have been the country’s first launch from a private launch pad, utilizing the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine, the Agnilet, designed and built indigenously by Agnikul.
The rocket, weighing 580 kilograms, aimed to reach an altitude of 20 kilometers above the Earth before descending into the Bay of Bengal, carrying up to 7 kg of payloads.
Agnikul Cosmos has been at the forefront of India’s burgeoning private space sector, with ambitions to provide customisable and transportable launch vehicles for small satellites to Low Earth Orbits (LEO).
The Agnibaan rocket, capable of carrying up to 100kg to orbits around 700 km high, represents a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Its unique propulsion system, powered by a semi-cryogenic engine using Aircraft Turbine Fuel and liquid oxygen, sets a new standard in the industry.