Posted by Chennai: IIT Madras-based space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos unveiled its full-scale second-stage engine – Agnilet at IAC held during Expo 2020 in Dubai. Agnikul also inked multiple pacts with various stakeholders which will directly catalyze its efforts of launching in 2022.
Agnilet is claimed to be the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine fully designed and Made in India. Angikul Cosmos successfully test-fired the engine Angilet in early 2021. The space tech startup had showcased this engine at IAC (International Astronautical Congress) 2021 – the space tech gathering in the world.
“The unveiling of Agnikul’s Agnilet engine at a global stage such as the IAC, allowed us to showcase the capabilities of Indian space tech startups to the international community. And allowed us to forge agreements with multiple commercial players such as NPC Spacemind and Precious Payload,” said Moin SPM, Co-Founder and COO – Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited.
“We are humbled and excited to present ourselves in the India Pavilion of the Dubai World Expo 2021 with 194 countries participating,” added SPM.
Also, the space tech startup signed an MoU with Italy based NPC Spacemind to provide end-to-end solutions for its customers. NPC manufactures advanced satellite subsystems and small satellites deployers.
“We are thrilled to sign MoU with Agnikul – a company focusing on the design of modular launch vehicles exceptionally based on customer’s requirements. This MoU poses the bases for future collaborations between NPC and Agnikul. Looking forward to launching with Agnikul soon,” said Niccolò Benini, NPC Spacemind’s Business Development Manager -NPC Italy.
Additionally, Precious Payload signed a pact with Agnikul to get global access to customers.
“We have been tracking several interesting small satellite launch projects, and Agnikul is one of them. We are happy to add Agnibaan, a customizable and scalable rocket, to our launch schedule and put this NewSpace team in front of our international customers,” said Andrew Maximov, CEO and Co-Founder – Precious Payload.
Agnikul also signed an agreement with India-based Asaco which will help the startup realise various structural subsystems of Agnibaan.
“This endeavour is a combination of ASACO’s decades of experience in machining complex assemblies and Agnikul’s bold vision for the next chapter in Indian space. We are proud to support a privately funded indigenous spacecraft and prove to the world that India has the capability to deliver on its vision,” said Rajesh Kothapalli, CEO – ASACO.
Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM and Prof. SR Chakravarthy (from IIT Madras) founded Agnikul founded in 2017. The space tech startup is building India’s first private small satellite launch vehicle – Agnibaan, a rocket that enables plug-and-play configuration and is capable of carrying up to 100 kg payload to low earth orbits.
It’s an on-demand, fully-customised and affordable rocket to meet the customer’s needs. Agnikul’s diverse team of rocket scientists, engineers, and investors are working on the vision of making space accessible and affordable. The IIT Madras incubated startup is looking to complete its first mission sometime next year.
In December 2020, Agnikul Cosmos became the first company in India to sign an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the IN-SPACe initiative to have access to the space agency’s expertise and its facilities to build Agnibaan.