Agnikul Cosmos' Agnibaan SOrTeD Launch
Agnikul Cosmos became the second Indian private company to launch a privately developed rocket when its Agnibaan SOrTeD mission successfully lifted off from India's first private launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 30 May 2024. The mission demonstrated a semi-cryogenic rocket engine using additive manufacturing and marked a major milestone in India's emerging private space industry. Agnikul's journey began in 2017 and progressed through the development of its single-piece 3D-printed Agnilet engine, collaboration with ISRO, creation of a private launchpad and rocket factory, multiple engine tests, and eventually the successful controlled flight of Agnibaan SOrTeD.
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Timeline
1 January 2017
Agnikul Cosmos founded
Agnikul Cosmos was founded in Chennai by Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM with the goal of developing flexible and accessible launch systems for the growing small-satellite market.
1 January 2018
Agnikul begins operations at IIT Madras
Agnikul began operations from the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development at IIT Madras and became part of the IIT Madras Incubation Cell.
1 January 2019
Agnikul develops early propulsion technology
The company developed its early rocket propulsion technology, including igniters and single-injector-element thrusters, while working toward its goal of building an orbital-class small-satellite launch vehicle.
1 January 2020
Agnikul raises seed funding
Agnikul secured seed investment from Speciale Invest and began signing agreements with prospective customers while developing its first single-piece 3D-printed upper-stage engine.
1 February 2021
Agnilet becomes a single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine
Agnikul successfully test-fired Agnilet, a single-piece, fully 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine designed and manufactured in India. The technology was developed to simplify rocket-engine manufacturing by integrating major engine components into a single printed structure.
1 November 2021
Agnilet unveiled internationally
Agnikul unveiled its full-scale Agnilet engine at the International Astronautical Congress in Dubai and promoted its indigenous single-piece 3D-printed engine technology internationally.
1 December 2021
Agnikul becomes first Indian space startup to sign agreement with ISRO
Agnikul signed an agreement with ISRO under India's newly opened space-sector framework, enabling the company to access ISRO facilities and expertise for development and testing of its launch-vehicle technology.
1 January 2022
Agnilet successfully test-fired at ISRO facility
Agnikul successfully test-fired its single-piece 3D-printed Agnilet engine at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, validating its propulsion technology with support from India's space ecosystem.
1 May 2022
Agnikul raises Series A funding
Agnikul raised Series A funding from institutional and angel investors to accelerate development of its Agnibaan launch vehicle and associated propulsion and manufacturing technologies.
1 November 2022
Agnikul establishes private rocket manufacturing facility
Agnikul inaugurated Rocket Factory-01, a dedicated facility for manufacturing 3D-printed rocket engines and other launch-vehicle components.
1 November 2022
Agnikul establishes India's first private launchpad
Agnikul established Agnikul Launchpad-01 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, creating India's first private launchpad and a dedicated mission-control facility for private rocket launches.
16 October 2023
Agnikul raises $26.7 million
Agnikul raised $26.7 million in a new funding round to accelerate development of its small-satellite launch vehicle and prepare for commercial space launches.
1 December 2023
Agnibaan development advances
Agnikul continued qualification and testing of Agnibaan, its customizable orbital-class launch vehicle designed to carry small satellites to low Earth orbit.
7 April 2024
First Agnibaan launch attempt postponed
Agnikul postponed the planned first launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD because of technical issues during launch preparations, beginning a series of attempts to complete the vehicle's first flight.
28 May 2024
Agnibaan launch attempt aborted five seconds before liftoff
Agnikul aborted another Agnibaan SOrTeD launch attempt just five seconds before liftoff while engineers checked igniter performance. It was the fourth cancellation of the mission before the eventual successful launch.
30 May 2024
Agnibaan SOrTeD successfully launches
Agnikul successfully launched Agnibaan SOrTeD Mission-01 at 07:15 IST from Agnikul Launchpad-01 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
30 May 2024
India records first controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic engine using additive manufacturing
The Agnibaan SOrTeD mission demonstrated a controlled flight powered by a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing. ISRO described the achievement as a major milestone for India's private space industry.
30 May 2024
Agnibaan reaches 8,076 metres
The two-minute suborbital demonstration flight reached a maximum altitude of 8,076 metres before the vehicle descended into the Bay of Bengal. The mission's objectives were achieved and vehicle performance was reported as nominal.
30 May 2024
Agnikul becomes India's second private rocket-launch company
Following Skyroot's Vikram-S launch in 2022, Agnikul became the second Indian private company to successfully launch a privately developed rocket from Indian soil.
23 May 2025
Agnikul test-fires electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic engine
Agnikul successfully ignited an electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic rocket engine, demonstrating further progress in its propulsion technology and its next generation of launch systems.
1 January 2025
Agnikul expands advanced manufacturing capabilities
Agnikul expanded its manufacturing infrastructure, including a Large Format Additive Metal Manufacturing facility designed to support production of larger aerospace structures and components.