New Delhi, May 30 (EFE).- Indian startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched the world’s first rocket with a 3D printed engine on Thursday, in its fifth attempt.
The Agnibaan rocket is also the first one in India to use both liquid and gaseous fuel.
“Humbled to announce the successful completion of our first flight (…) from our own and India’s first & only private Launchpad within SDSC-SHAR at Sriharikota,” the startup posted on social media platform X.
“All the mission objectives of this controlled vertical ascent flight were met and performance was nominal,” Agnikul Cosmos added.
“The vehicle was completely designed in-house and was powered by the world’s first single piece 3d printed engine and also happens to be India’s first flight with a semi cryo engine,” it further said.
The state-owned Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) described the launch as a “major milestone.”
The Agnibaan rocket is capable of sending payloads of 30kg-300kg into an orbit about 700 km high, according to the Indian company.
The Indian government made the decision to open the Indian space sector to private firms in 2020, following which the first privately developed rocket in the Asian country took off in 2022.
Since then, New Delhi has relaxed regulations regarding foreign direct investment in the space sector, even up to 100 percent in some cases, such as the manufacture of components and systems for satellites. EFE
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