Chennai-based space tech start-up Agnikul Cosmos successfully completed the flight acceptance test of their 3D printed rocket engine that is going to be used in their upcoming space flight.
- During the test, the 3D printed rocket engine Aginlet burnt for 108 seconds, generated sea level thrust of 6 kilo Newton (kN).
- Unlike other rocket engines, Agnilet was built in a single step, eliminating the thousands of parts that are typically assembled in a conventional rocket engine; and they recently obtained a patent for the engine.
- Flight acceptance tests are carried out to validate various parameters such as integrity of hardware, assessment of subsystems’ performance; tuning engine for meeting mission requirements and so on.
- The launch of Agnikul’s rocket Agnibaan will be the second private rocket launch from India after Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-S.
- Like Vikram-S, Agnbaan’s flight will also be suborbital, which means that it will reach below the Earth’s orbit.
- Earlier, Agnikul had set up India’s first-ever launchpad that will be operated by a private player, at Sriharikota. The facility was inaugurated by S. Somanath, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary, Department of Space.
