Indian Space Firm Agnikul Creates History: World's First 3D-printed Rocket Engine Launch

The world's first rocket propelled entirely by 3D printing, "Agnibaan - SOrTeD," was successfully launched by startup Agnikul Cosmos, marking a significant milestone for the Indian space industry. The launch occurred from "Dhanush," India's first privately-developed launchpad, which Agnikul also built in Sriharikota.

An important turning point for India's developing private space sector is this mission. At 7:15 AM IST today, the rocket—which was propelled by the country's first locally developed and produced semi-cryogenic engine—took off into the sky.

The successful launch of Agnikul's "Agnibaan - SOrTeD" (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) serves as a test flight to collect vital data for the company's forthcoming orbital launch vehicle, "Agnibaan," and highlights its revolutionary capabilities.

Prominent members of the Indian space community, including Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, saw the event.

While congratulating Agnikul, Dr. Somanath underlined that the launch "demonstrate[s] the prowess of indigenous design and innovation" and that it opens up new opportunities for private companies to contribute to India's space initiatives.

Similar remarks were made by Dr. Goenka, who said that the occasion "marks a significant moment for private players who are contributing to growing India's space sector."

Developed at IIT Madras, Agnikul provides scalable and reasonably priced launch options with the goal of democratizing space access. The "Agnibaan" rocket, which is the company's flagship model, may carry up to 300 kg of payload, depending on the needs of the mission. Agnikul hopes to launch an orbital mission by the end of 2025, ushering in a new era for Indian commercial space research, with this successful launch.