Agnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based private space startup, achieved a major milestone by successfully test-firing India’s first electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic rocket engine. The engine will power the company’s upcoming Agnibaan launch vehicle. Agnikul announced this achievement on Friday.

This breakthrough represents a significant leap for India’s fast-growing private space sector. It also places Agnikul at the forefront of propulsion technology innovation. The engine uses an electric motor-driven throttling system.

This system allows precise control over thrust by adjusting the speed of the electric motor. This ability ensures higher accuracy and quick response. Such features are vital for managing complex flight paths and mission needs.

During the test, the team throttled the engine across a wide range of thrust levels. This demonstrated the engine’s flexibility and reliability. Unlike conventional rocket engines that use gas generators or turbopumps, Agnikul’s semi-cryogenic engine uses an electric motor to run the pumps.

These pumps circulate a mix of liquid oxygen (a cryogenic oxidiser) and refined kerosene (a non-cryogenic fuel). This method improves efficiency and simplifies the integration of advanced control systems.

Agnikul kept its unique single-piece engine design central to this new system. The company 3D-printed many of the engine’s pump subsystems. They assembled these components at Rocket Factory-1, their AS9100D-certified facility inside the IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai.

Agnikul also designed and built the motor drives and related control software entirely in-house. The successful test moves the company closer to firing a cluster of these engines together. This engine cluster is essential to power the Agnibaan rocket.

Agnibaan supports a payload range between 30 kg and 300 kg. It is built to meet the rising need for affordable and customisable satellite launch options.