Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his congratulations to the Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos following the successful sub-orbital test flight of their Agnibaan rocket. He described this achievement as a "remarkable feat" and a significant milestone for India's space sector.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi shared images of the Agnibaan rocket launch and wrote, "A remarkable feat which will make the entire nation proud! The successful launch of the Agnibaan rocket, powered by the world’s first single-piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, is a momentous occasion for India’s space sector and a testament to the remarkable ingenuity of our Yuva Shakti." He also conveyed his best wishes to the Agnikul Cosmos team for their future endeavors.

Agnibaan Rocket's Successful Sub-Orbital Test Flight
The successful sub-orbital test flight of Agnikul Cosmos' 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket, Agnibaan, took place from their launch pad at Sriharikota, making Agnikul the second private Indian entity to achieve such a feat. Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace was the first, with the launch of its sub-orbital rocket Vikram-S in November 2022.

The test flight of Agnibaan Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) occurred at 7:15 am, without live streaming and with fewer dignitaries present, at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Technical difficulties had previously delayed the launch attempts on March 22, April 6, April 7, and May 28.

About the Agnibaan Rocket and Agnilet Engine
Agnibaan is a customizable, two-stage launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 300 kg into an orbit of about 700 km. It uses a semi-cryogenic engine that combines liquid and gas propellants, a technology yet to be demonstrated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Agnikul Cosmos aims to fly an orbital mission by the end of the financial year 2025. The SOrTeD mission featured a single-stage launch vehicle demonstration powered by the Agnilet engine, a sub-cooled liquid oxygen-based propulsion system developed in-house. The vehicle boasts India's first-ever ethernet-based avionics architecture and fully developed autopilot software.

Powered by sub-cooled Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), the rocket is equipped with four carbon composite fins for passive control. The Agnilet engine is notably the world's first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine.

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