AgniKul Cosmos

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited (Agni Kul: "") is an Indian aerospace manufacturer based in National Center for Combustion R&D (NCRD) of IIT Madras, Chennai. The start up aims to develop and launch its own small-lift launch vehicle namely "Agnibaan", capable of placing payload into a orbit. First commercial launch is expected in 2022.
History.
The company was founded by Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM within IIT Madras with a seed funding of with aim to develop and launch its first rocket in 2021 and subsequently develop ability to provide launch service for satellites weighing up to . The start-up later managed to raise up to from investors. Till end of 2020, the company had raised almost $4 million and headed towards Indian Space Research Organisation for advisory. A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was signed with Department of Space to obtain government's technological assistance in development of launch vehicles. Although, company entered an agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corp. to launch rocket from Kodiak Launch Complex as a commercial launch pad to test rockets was not available in India. AgniKul has received investment from personal capacity of Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group. Although, amount was not specified.
Development of Engines.
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. The engine has been developed in single-piece through 3D printing with no assembled parts.
Launch vehicle.
Agnibaan ("") is envisaged to be a mobile launch system capable of placing a into a orbit. The rocket will be 18 meters long with a diameter of 1.3 meters and a lift-off mass of . It will use clustered engines on first stage in various configurations depending upon the payload and will only use LOX or Kerosene based engines. The rocket is supposed to be manufactured by 3D printing at whole.