Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Monday disclosed his investment in the space startup Agnikul Cosmos, which recently created history by launching the world's first rocket with a fully 3D-printed engine.
On Thursday, the Agnibaan SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator) rocket created a landmark moment for India by being the first ever semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch to be entirely conceived and made in the country.
In a landmark moment, it was sent off at 7:15 a.m. from 'Dhanush,' India's first privately developed launchpad developed by Agnikul at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The launch took place from the rocket port of ISRO in Sriharikota.
Anand Mahindra shared his excitement on X.com, saying, “You’ll see a rocket lifting off. You’ll also see the talent of young Indians lifting off…,” while disclosing his investment in Agnikul Cosmos. He called them his #MondayMotivation.
The Agnibaan rocket is a two-stage vehicle capable of carrying payloads up to 300 kg to an altitude of 700 km, powered by engines using liquid oxygen and kerosene.
Agnikul Cosmos, a startup nurtured at IIT Madras, announced on X that the Agnibaan SOrTeD “utilizes data acquisition systems and flight computers entirely designed in-house.”
The company highlighted that the flight achieved a “controlled ascent with full 3-axis control” thanks to an autopilot system “fully developed and designed in-house.”
The burn duration was precisely 65 seconds, as planned. Moreover, Agnibaan was the first rocket from India to be driven by computers operating on Linux, featuring an ethernet-based architecture for connecting the vehicle’s flight computers.
This rocket was also pioneering in flying with aviation-grade jet fuel and industrial-grade liquid oxygen. Agnikul Cosmos aims to undertake an orbital mission by 2025.
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