Agnikul inaugurates India’s first private space vehicle launchpad in Sriharikota

Tags: Science and Technology

Chennai-based space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos launched India’s first private launchpad and mission control centre at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota on 28 November.

Important facts

• The facility was inaugurated by ISRO chairman S Somanath.

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has supported the private Company AgniKul Cosmos for setting up the launchpad. 

• The Company has planned a tech demonstration mission.

• This facility has two parts—the Agnikul launchpad and the Agnikul mission control centre—which are four kilometres apart.

• The launchpad is designed to accommodate and support liquid stage-controlled launches. 

• The Chennai-based startup Agnikul Cosmos plans to launch its Agnibaan rocket from this launchpad.

About Agnibaan Rocket

• Agnibaan is a highly customizable two-stage rocket from Agnikul, capable of carrying a payload of up to 100 kg in orbit (low-Earth orbit) at an altitude of about 700 km with a plug-and-play configuration.

• The Agnibaan rocket will be powered by the company’s 3D-printed Agnilet engines.

• The Agnibaan rocket is a “semi-cryogenic” engine that uses a mixture of liquid kerosene and supercold liquid oxygen to propel itself.