AgniKul Cosmos

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited (Agni Kul: lit. 'Fire Clan') 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 100 kg (220 lb) payload into a 700 km (430 mi) orbit. First commercial launch is expected in 2022.

AgniKul Cosmos
TypePrivate
IndustryAerospace industry
Founded2017 (2017)
Founder
  • Srinath Ravichandran
  • Moin SPM
  • Satyanaryan Chakravarthy
  • Janardhana Raju
Headquarters
National Center for Combustion R&D, IIT Madras, Chennai
,
India
Key people
Srinath Ravichandran (CEO) & Moin SPM (COO)
ProductsLaunch vehicles, satellite propulsion systems
ServicesCommercial launches, satellite systems
Revenue₹23.4 crore (US$3.3 million)
Number of employees
41-60
Websiteagnikul.in

History

The company was founded by Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM within IIT Madras with a seed funding of ₹3 crore (equivalent to ₹3.4 crore or US$470,000 in 2019) with aim to develop and launch its first rocket in 2021 and subsequently develop ability to provide launch service for satellites weighing up to 500 kg (1,100 lb).[1] The start-up later managed to raise up to ₹23.4 crore (US$3.3 million) from investors.[2] Till end of 2020, the company had raised almost $4 million and headed towards Indian Space Research Organisation for advisory.[3] A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was signed with Department of Space to obtain government's technological assistance in development of launch vehicles.[4] 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.[5]

Launch vehicle

Agnibaan (lit. 'Arrow of fire') is envisaged to be a mobile launch system capable of placing a 100 kg (220 lb) 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). 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.[6]

See also

References
  1. Reddy, Krishna (29 May 2019). "WATCH: IIT Madras-incubated Agnikul is aiming to become the first Indian startup to put small satellites into space".
  2. Kashyaap, Sindhu (18 March 2020). "[Funding alert] Spacetech startup Agnikul raises Rs 23.4 Cr in pre-Series A round led by pi Ventures".
  3. Srinivasan, Srinath (26 November 2020). "Into a new orbit: Making space for small satellites". The Financial Times. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  4. "Non-Disclosure Agreement signed with M/s Agnikul". ISRO. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. Narasimhan, TE (1 October 2020). "Agnikul signs agreement with Alaska Aerospace to test launch its rocket". Business Standard. Chennai. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. "Agnibaan". AgniKul Cosmos. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
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