'Momentous Occasion For India’s Space Sector...': PM Modi Congratulates Agnikul On Agnibaan Launch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the successful launch of a rocket powered by the world's first single-piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine as a "momentous occasion" for India's space sector.

Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos Pvt. successfully carried out a sub-orbital test flight of its home-built 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket, Agnibaan, from its launch pad at Sriharikota, making it India's second private entity to do so.

"A remarkable feat which will make the entire nation proud! The successful launch of Agnibaan rocket powered by 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. My best wishes to the @AgnikulCosmos team for their future endeavours," PM Modi said in a post on X.

After four unsuccessful attempts, the test flight of Agnibaan Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) took place at 7.15 am without any live streaming and in the presence of fewer dignitaries at the Sriharikota launch pad located within ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

"All the mission objectives of this controlled vertical ascent flight were met and performance was nominal," the company said in a post on X.

"Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos for the successful launch of the Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad. A major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realised through additive manufacturing," the ISRO said in a post on X.

Agnibaan is a customisable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry a payload of up to 300 kg into an orbit of about 700 km, according to the company.

The rocket uses a semi-cryogenic engine with a mix of liquid and gas propellants, a technology that is yet to be demonstrated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in any of its rockets.

(With PTI inputs)