AgniKul Cosmos

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited
TypePrivate
IndustrySpace
Founded1 December 2017 (1 December 2017)[1]
Founders
  • Srinath Ravichandran
  • Moin SPM
  • Satyanaryan Chakravarthy
  • Janardhana Raju
Headquarters
National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
,
India
Key people
  • Srinath Ravichandran
    (Co-founder and CEO)
  • Moin SPM
    (Co-founder and COO)
Products
ServicesLaunch service provider
Number of employees
150-200
Websiteagnikul.in

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited[a] is a private Indian aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider based in National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) of IIT Madras, Chennai.[2] The start up aims to develop and launch its own small-lift launch vehicle such as the Agnibaan, capable of placing 100 kg (220 lb) payload into a 700 km (430 mi) orbit.

The first suborbital test vehicle was successfully launched on 30 May 2024. This mission achieved several notable milestones including world's first flight with a single-piece 3D-printed engine, India's first semi-cryo engine launch and India's first launch from a private launch pad.

History

The company was founded by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM, Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy and Janardhana Raju within IIT Madras with a seed funding of ₹3 crore (equivalent to ₹4.2 crore or US$440,000 in 2023) with aim to develop and launch its first rocket in 2021 and subsequently develop ability to provide launch service for satellites weighing up to 100 kg (220 lb).[3] The start-up later managed to raise up to ₹23.4 crore (equivalent to ₹28 crore or US$2.9 million in 2023) from investors. Till end of 2020, the company had raised almost $4 million and headed towards ISRO for advisory.[4] A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was signed with Department of Space to obtain government's technological assistance in development of launch vehicles.[5] Although the company entered an agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to launch rocket from Kodiak Launch Complex as a commercial launch pad to test rockets was not available in India, the deal eventually fizzled out as no progress was made with the vehicle.[6] AgniKul has received investment in a personal capacity from Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, of an unspecified amount.[7]

AgniKul signed a framework agreement with the Department of Space in September 2021 for access to ISRO facilities and technical expertise for the development of its two-stage small-satellite Agnibaan launch vehicle.[8] On 7 November 2022, Agnikul Cosmos bought its first Flight Termination System (FTS) from ISRO. It will be used in Agnibaan scheduled for launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.[9]

In October 2023, AgniKul raised $26.7 million in a Series B funding round, bringing the total capital raised since its inception to $40 million. Both existing and new investors participated in the round.[10][11] Recent funding rounds and reports from March 2026 place the company's valuation at over $500 million.[12]

According to co-founder and CEO Srinath Ravichandran, Agnikul is attempting to perfect the technology of firing several engines simultaneously and conducting experiments for stage separation following the success of the Agnibaan SOrTeD mission. Additionally, the company began constructing rigs, which will take six to seven months. The first orbital launch will occur three months after rigs construction is complete.[13]

They have inaugurated a Large Format Additive Metal Manufacturing (LFAMM) facility, which houses India's largest 3D metal printer dedicated to rocket components.[14]

In February 2026, AgniKul Cosmos announced a partnership with Neevcloud to build a proof of concept model for a space-based AI data center, to be launched by Agnibaan.[15] The project aims to utilize the cold environment and solar energy of space to solve Earth-bound cooling and power issues for AI processing, with a target launch as early as 2027. The company now claims they can 3D print an entire engine in just 7 days, reducing the traditional manufacturing timeline by nearly 97%.[16]

The Tamil Nadu government, through its industrial arm TIDCO, invested ₹25 crore in AgniKul in early 2026. This is notable as it marks the first time a government body in India has taken an equity stake in a space startup.[17]

Hardware

Launch vehicle

Main article: Agnibaan

Agnibaan (ISO: Agnibāṇa) (lit. 'Arrow of Fire') is envisaged to be a mobile launch system capable of placing a 100 kg (220 lb) satellite into a 700 km (430 mi) orbit. The rocket will be 18 meters long with a diameter of 1.3 meters and a lift-off mass of 14,000 kg (31,000 lb). It will use clustered engines on first stage in various configurations depending upon the payload and will only use liquid oxygen (LOX) and Kerosene based engines.[18] A single-stage suborbital demonstrator, nicknamed Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator) was successfully launched on 30 May 2024 as a suborbital test flight.[19][20] The mission also confirmed the use of Linux-based flight computers and an Ethernet-based architecture, a first for Indian rockets.

The Agnibaan launch vehicle distinguishes itself from conventional liquid-propellant rockets by utilizing an Electric Pump-fed cycle. This architecture employs high-discharge brushless DC motors to drive propellant pumps, effectively eliminating the need for complex pre-burners or gas generators. By replacing traditional turbomachinery with an electric system, AgniKul has significantly simplified the engine's internal plumbing, enabling a "plug-and-play" approach to engine clustering. The system is designed to run on a semi-cryogenic propellant combination of sub-cooled LOX and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which offers a balance of high performance and simplified handling compared to full cryogenic systems. [21]

A primary technical advantage of this architecture is Software-Defined Throttling, where the speed of the electric motors can be adjusted near-instantaneously via flight algorithms. This provides a level of precision in thrust control that is traditionally difficult to achieve with gas-driven turbopumps. These electric pumps feed into single-piece 3D-printed engines made of Inconel, such as the Agnilet and the larger Agnite booster, which stands one metre tall. The integration of additive manufacturing and electric propulsion allows the company to produce a complete engine in as little as seven days, facilitating rapid, on-demand launch capabilities for the small-satellite market.[22]

Rocket engine

In February 2021, AgniKul test fired its semi-cryogenic rocket engine Agnilet which will power second stage of its rocket Agnibaan for the first time. Agnikul claimed the engine has been developed in single-piece through 3D printing with no assembled parts.[23] On 8 November 2022, Agnilet was successfully test fired for a few seconds on Vertical Test Facility, Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) to validate the design and manufacturing methodology used in the development process. AgniKul Cosmos holds the patent for design and manufacturing of single-piece rocket engine. The first dedicated factory to manufacture large number of 3D printed rocket engines is in IIT Madras Research Park.[24]

On 7 February 2023, flight acceptance test of Angilet for AgniKul's controlled sub-orbital flight was successfully conducted. The engine was completely manufactured at Agnikul's Rocket Factory-1. In this particular test, engine was fired over and above the mission burn time as required for flight acceptance.[25] On 25 February 2025, Agnikul fires a cluster stack of three Agnilet engines. Each of the Semi-cryogenic units were 3-D printed at Agnikul's Rocket Factory-1 in Chennai.[26]

In March 2026, AgniKul successfully test-fired the Agnite booster engine, which is a one metre long single-piece 3D printed rocket engine of its kind. In February 2026, In a historic first for an Indian private space-tech company, AgniKul successfully test-fired a cluster of three semi-cryogenic engines simultaneously. This validated their proprietary software's ability to sync multiple electric-motor-driven pumps.[27][28]

Launch pad and mission control centre

AgniKul Cosmos inaugurated first private launch pad and mission control centre in India at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on 28 November 2022. The launchpad and the mission control centre are 4 km apart from one another. At present, the launchpad can handle liquid stage launch vehicle.[29] All the critical systems performing functions at Agnikul launchpad (ALP) and the Agnikul mission control center (AMCC) have high degree of redundancy to ensure 100% operationality although none of these systems were tested so far.[30] ISRO's range operations team will monitor key flight safety parameters during launches from ALP while AMCC can share critical data with ISRO's Mission Control Center.[31] Both the facilities have support of ISRO and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).[32]

Industry collaboration

An agreement has been signed by Nibe Space, a division of Nibe Defence and Aerospace on 9 September 2024, with AgniKul Cosmos, Skyroot Aerospace, Centum Electronics, SpaceFields, Sisir Radar, CYRAN AI Solutions, and Larsen & Toubro for the launch of India's first constellation of multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth observation satellites.[33]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ pronounced: ɐɡnikul (ISO: Agnikula); According to the founders of the company, 'AgniKul' is the portmanteau of 'Agni' and 'Gurukula', and the name therefore translates to "a place where people learn to use fire"

References

  1. ^ "AGNIKUL COSMOS PRIVATE LIMITED". IndiaFilings. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Agnikul: From IIT-M brainchild to space odyssey". The Times of India. 1 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  3. ^ Upadhyay, Shyam Nandan (18 October 2023). "Agnikul Looks to Make India A Global Space Hub". AIM. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. ^ Srinivasan, Srinath (26 November 2020). "Into a new orbit: Making space for small satellites". The Financial Times. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Non-Disclosure Agreement signed with M/s Agnikul". ISRO. 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. ^ Narasimhan, TE (1 October 2020). "Agnikul signs agreement with Alaska Aerospace to test launch its rocket". Business Standard. Chennai. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Anand Mahindra backs space startup Agnikul Cosmos". The Economic Times. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. ^ "ISRO signs agreement with Agnikul Cosmos allowing it access to facilities, expertise to build launch vehicles". Firstpost. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  9. ^ "ISRO supplies rocket system to support private launch vehicle". mint. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  10. ^ Wang, Catherine. "Indian Space Startup Raises $26.7 Million Series B To Launch Satellites Using 3D-Printed Rocket Engines". Forbes. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Space startup Agnikul Cosmos raises ₹200 crore". The Times of India. 18 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  12. ^ Vardhan, Gyan (22 November 2025). "Agnikul raises $17 Mn at $500 Mn valuation to scale launches and infra". Entrackr. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Agnikul Cosmos aims for early 2025 launches following successful test-flight of Agnibaan rocket". The Telegraph. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  14. ^ ET Online, Economic Times (25 March 2026). "Agnikul's 'Agnite' test marks breakthrough in 3D-printed rocket engines". Economic Times. Retrieved 27 March 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Agnikul, NeevCloud to launch India's first orbital AI data centre platform". The Economic Times. 13 February 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Spacetech startup Agnikul Cosmos 3D prints booster engine in 7 days; eyes up to 30 launches a year". Economic Times. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 27 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "Tamil Nadu govt invests Rs 25 crore in space startup Agnikul Cosmos". Economic Times. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Agnibaan". AgniKul Cosmos. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  19. ^ "ISRO's Backing, Dogged Will: How Chennai Start-Up Scripted Rocket History". NDTV. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Agnikul successfully launches SOrTeD, achieves many firsts". The Times of India. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  21. ^ "AGNIBAAN". Agnikul. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  22. ^ Science Desk, India Tooday (24 February 2026). "Watch: Indian space startup Agnikul fires cluster rocket engines for the first time". India Today. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Agnikul Cosmos fires single-piece, 3D printed rocket engine". MoneyControl. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  24. ^ Kandavel, Sangeetha (8 November 2022). "Chennai-headquartered Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-fires 3D-printed rocket engine". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Flight acceptance test of Agnilet engine for Agnikul's upcoming controlled suborbital flight". youtube.com. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  26. ^ Science Desk, India Today (24 February 2026). "Watch: Indian space startup Agnikul fires cluster rocket engines for the first time". India Today. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  27. ^ Ismail, Mohd (26 February 2026). "Agnikul Cosmos Achieves Historic Triple Engine Cluster Firing". GBP Aerospace & Defence. Retrieved 27 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Indian Defence News, Indian Defence News (23 February 2026). "Agnikul Cosmos Achieves India's First Successful Test of Clustered (3-Engines Simultaneously) Semi-Cryogenic Engines With 3D-Printed Powerplants". Indian Defence News. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Agnikul inaugurates India's first private space vehicle launchpad in Sriharikota". The Indian Express. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  30. ^ Kandavel, Sangeetha (28 November 2022). "Agnikul Cosmos sets up India's first private space vehicle launchpad at Sriharikota". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Space start-up Agnikul Cosmos sets up India's first private launch pad". India Today. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Space startup Agnikul Cosmos inaugurates India's first private launchpad at Sriharikota". Financialexpress. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Nibe Limited announces setting up India's first earth observation satellite constellation". ANI News. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.