RowenaClune540 at 10:33, 20 May 2026

2026-05-20T10:33:56Z

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{{Short description|Indian small-lift orbital class launch vehicle developed by AgniKul Cosmos}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox rocket
| name = Agnibaan
| image = [[File:Agnibaan-rocket.svg|frameless|50px|alt=Illustration of Agnibaan]]
| function = [[Small-lift launch vehicle]]
| manufacturer = [[AgniKul Cosmos]]
| country-origin = India
| height = {{cvt|18|m}}
| diameter = {{cvt|1.3|m}}
| mass = {{cvt|14,000|kg}}
| stages = 2-3
{{Infobox rocket/payload
| location = [[Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
| altitude = {{cvt|700|km}}
| inclination = 45.0°
| mass = {{cvt|100|kg}}
}}
| comparable = {{flatlist|
* [[Firefly Alpha|Alpha]]
* [[Rocket Lab Electron|Electron]]
* [[Northrop Grumman Pegasus|Pegasus]]
* [[Small Satellite Launch Vehicle|SSLV]]
}}
| status = Under development
| stage1engines = 4/5/6/7 × Agnilet (Customizable)
| stage1thrust = 140 kN (sea level)
| stage1time = 285 sec
| stage1fuel = [[Liquid oxygen|LOX]]/ [[RP-1]]
| stage2engines = 1 × Agnilet
| stage2thrust = 25 kN (sea level)
| stage2time = 355 sec
| stage2fuel = [[Liquid oxygen|LOX]]/ [[RP-1]]
| stage3engines = 1 × Agnilet
| stage3fuel = [[Liquid oxygen|LOX]]/ [[RP-1]]
}}

'''Agnibaan''' ([[Sanskrit]], [[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|sa|Agni}} 'Fire', {{transliteration|sa|Bāṇa}} 'Arrow', {{literal translation|Arrow of Fire}}) is a three-stage [[small-lift launch vehicle]] of [[AgniKul Cosmos]], currently under development. It is 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).<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=IIT Madras-based Start-up Agnikul Cosmos unveils Made in India Rocket Engine at Dubai|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/iit-madras-based-start-up-agnikul-cosmos-unveils-made-in-india-rocket-engine-at-dubai20211112180558/|access-date=2022-01-23|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kandavel|first=Sangeetha|date=2021-02-10|title=City startup fires single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/city-startup-fires-single-piece-3d-printed-rocket-engine/article33796768.ece|access-date=2022-01-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The first stage is powered by seven Agnilet engines.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-09|title=Indian start-up Agnikul successfully test-fires fully 3-D printed semi-cryo rocket engine|url=https://zeenews.india.com/science/indian-start-up-agnikul-successfully-test-fires-fully-3-d-printed-semi-cryo-rocket-engine-2340690.html|access-date=2022-01-23|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref> The second stage is powered by the same Agnilet engine which will have a larger nozzle than the sea level nozzle to optimize it for [[vacuum]].<ref name=":0" />

== Design ==
=== Engines ===
Agnibaan will use clustered engines in various configurations in the first stage, depending on the payload. It will also use a vacuum optimized version of the Agnilet in the second stage. These engines use [[liquid oxygen]] and [[kerosene]] as the oxidizer and fuel.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Agnikul|url=https://agnikul.in/#/products|access-date=2022-01-23|website=agnikul.in}}</ref> The first stage of the Agnibaan is powered by 7 Agnilet engines, each with a thrust of 25 kN (yet to be tested) at sea level.

These are all [[electric-pump-fed engine]]s allowing for simplified engine design and highly configurable engine clustering architectures. It is capable of operating with a specific impulse of 285 seconds at sea level. The entire combustion section is a single-piece assembly and is fully [[3D printing|3D printed]]. The second stage of the vehicle also uses an Agnilet engine optimized for vacuum use. It is thought to deliver up to 355 seconds of specific impulse in vacuum environment. An optional third stage sits inside the payload fairing.<ref name=":0" />

== Launch site ==
Agnibaan is intended to be built with the capability to launch from multiple launch ports across the world. The launch pad "'''''Dhanush'''''" ([[Sanskrit]], [[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|sa|Dhanuṣa}}, {{literal translation|Bow}}), the first [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre#ALP-01 (Dhanush) Launch Pad|private launch pad]] and mission control center in India at the [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]] (SDSC) in [[Sriharikota]], Andhra Pradesh, was inaugurated on 28 November 2022 and is designed to support all configurations of Agnibaan with reusability in mind. Dimensions of Dhanush are designed with road dimensions and global transportability restrictions in mind.<ref name=":0" />

The launchpad and the mission control center are 4 km (2.5 mi) apart from one another. The launchpad currently has the capability to accommodate liquid stage launch vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2022 |title=Agnikul inaugurates India's first private space vehicle launchpad in Sriharikota |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/agnikul-cosmos-launchpad-mission-control-center-sriharikota-8296006/ |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The pad has received the name ''Dhanush'' and referred as ALP-01.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=Space Startup Agnikul Ready For Its Sub-Orbital Rocket Launch On Friday |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/space-start-up-agnikul-ready-for-its-sub-orbital-rocket-agnibaan-launch-on-friday-5270592 |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> 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 have been tested so far.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kandavel |first=Sangeetha |date=28 November 2022 |title=Agnikul Cosmos sets up India's first private space vehicle launchpad at Sriharikota |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/chennai-based-agnikul-cosmos-inaugurates-first-launchpad-mission-control-center-at-sriharikota/article66194809.ece |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 November 2022 |title=Space start-up Agnikul Cosmos sets up India's first private launch pad |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/space-start-up-agnikul-cosmos-sets-up-india-first-private-launch-pad-2302603-2022-11-28 |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> Both the facilities have support of ISRO and [[Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre]] (IN-SPACe).<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2022 |title=Space startup Agnikul Cosmos inaugurates India's first private launchpad at Sriharikota |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/space-startup-agnikul-cosmos-inaugurates-indias-first-private-launchpad-at-sriharikota/2895477/ |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

== Schedule ==
The company previously aimed to develop and launch its first rocket in 2021. A [[non-disclosure agreement]] (NDA) was signed with the [[Department of Space]] to obtain the government's technological assistance in the development of launch vehicles on 3 December 2020. However, the company entered into an agreement with [[Alaska Aerospace Corporation]] to launch a rocket from [[Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska|Kodiak Launch Complex]] as a commercial launch pad to test the rocket as the launch pad was not available for use in India.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Narasimhan|first=T. E.|date=2020-10-01|title=Agnikul signs agreement with Alaska Aerospace to test launch its rocket|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/agnikul-signs-agreement-with-alaska-aerospace-to-test-launch-its-rocket-120100101112_1.html|access-date=2022-01-23}}</ref> "We are planning to test launch our rocket Agnibaan before 2022 end. Our plan is to launch the rocket from a mobile launch pad. The test launch will happen from India's spaceport [[Sriharikota]] belonging to [[ISRO]]", said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO, AgniKul Cosmos. No orbital rocket was launched in 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025. [[Agnibaan SOrTeD]], a single stage suborbital technical demonstration rocket was launched on 30 May 2024.

== Launch history ==
=== Test variant ===
{{Main articles|Agnibaan SOrTeD}}
A test flight of single-stage version of the rocket, Agnibaan SOrTeD, successfully flew on a suborbital mission on 30 May 2024 from SDSC,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-09 |title=Indian private rocket company Agnikul plans to launch sub-orbital mission by March-end |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/indian-private-rocket-company-agnikul-plans-to-launch-sub-orbital-mission-by-march-end-420728-2024-03-09 |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=Business Today |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigam |first=Saumya |date=2024-03-10 |title=Agnikul set to conduct sub-orbital mission by end of March {{!}} News – India TV |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/science/agnikul-set-to-conduct-sub-orbital-mission-by-end-of-march-2024-03-10-920767 |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-10 |title=In the year of Gaganyaan, private space sector too set to make a big splash |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/in-the-year-of-gaganyaan-private-space-sector-too-set-to-make-a-big-splash-9205591/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> after being postponed several times due to many issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=|date=2024-04-06 |title=India's space startup Agnikul delays maiden rocket launch again |url=https://theprint.in/india/indias-space-startup-agnikul-delays-maiden-rocket-launch-again/2030072/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=[[ThePrint]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width: 100%;"
! scope="col" | S.No
! scope="col" | Date / time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col" | Rocket,<br />Configuration
! scope="col" | Launch site
! scope="col" | Payload
! scope="col" | Orbit
!Customer
!Status
!Note
|-
|1.
|30 May 2024 / 07:15
|[[Agnibaan SOrTeD]]
|[[Satish Dhawan Space Centre#ALP-01 (Dhanush) Launch Pad|SDSC ALP]]
|{{flagicon|India}} ''[[Boilerplate (spaceflight)|Mass simulator]]''
|[[Suborbital]]
|{{N/A}}
|{{Success}}
|Seven seconds after lift-off, auto-pilot was engaged. The rocket began traveling across the ocean, executed the pitch-over maneuver, and then carried out its intended course. The rocket entered wind biasing maneuver at roughly 60 seconds. The rocket then carried on flying until it burned out and fell back into [[Bay of Bengal]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2 June 2024 |title=Agnikul Cosmos aims for early 2025 launches following successful test-flight of Agnibaan rocket |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/agnikul-cosmos-eyes-early-2025-satellite-launches/cid/2024185 |access-date=3 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref>
|-
|}

=== Agnibaan ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width: 100%;"
! scope="col" | S.No
! scope="col" | Date / time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col" | Rocket,<br />Configuration
! scope="col" | Launch site
! scope="col" | Payload
! scope="col" | Orbit
!Customer
!Status
!Note
|-
|1.
|TBA
|Agnibaan
|[[Satish Dhawan Space Centre#ALP-01 (Dhanush) Launch Pad|SDSC ALP]]
|{{flagicon|India}}
|[[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
|TBA
|{{Planned}}
|Maiden flight of Agnibaan rocket.
|-
|2.
|TBA
|Agnibaan
|[[Satish Dhawan Space Centre#ALP-01 (Dhanush) Launch Pad|SDSC ALP]]
|{{flagicon|India}}
|[[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
|TBA
|{{Planned}}
|
|-
|}

== See also ==

* [[ISRO]]
* [[Skyroot Aerospace]]
* [[Small-lift launch vehicle]]

=== Rockets of similar class ===

* [[Firefly Alpha|Alpha]]
* [[Rocket Lab Electron|Electron]]
* [[Falcon 1]]
* [[Small Satellite Launch Vehicle|SSLV]]
* [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]]
* [[Vikram (rocket family)|Vikram-I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Space launch vehicles of India]]
[[Category:Vehicles introduced in 2022]]
[[Category:2022 establishments in India]]

Agnibaan - Revision history

RowenaClune540 at 10:33, 20 May 2026