Private Indian space firm Agnikul Cosmos has successfully fired dual indigenous 3D-printed rocket engines in a groundbreaking test, advancing the nation’s reusable launch vehicle ambitions with fully homegrown technology.
The company shared a video demonstrating both in-house electric motor-driven, pump-fed, single-piece engines reaching thermal steady state and maintaining uniform performance for 49 seconds.
This test validates the engines’ reliability under real firing conditions, a critical step toward Agnikul’s Agnibaan orbital rocket. Conducted with support from ISRO and IN-SPACe, the firing highlights India’s growing private sector prowess in propulsion innovation.
Revolutionary Pump Technology
The four pumps powering the engines stand out for their advanced design:
Driven by fully independent electric motors, eliminating complex turbo-pumps used in traditional rockets.
Majority of components 3D-printed in-house, enabling rapid iteration and cost reduction.
Speed precisely controlled by proprietary drives and software developed domestically.
This pump-fed architecture offers throttleability for precise orbital insertion, a feature essential for reusable rockets competing with global leaders like SpaceX.
Agnikul has unveiled its ambitious leap into the global reusable rocket race, announcing plans to build a Falcon 9–like launch vehicle that is fully reusable and cost-efficient.
The company revealed its roadmap at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 in Sydney, Australia, where it also highlighted its recent success in securing multiple patents across the US, Europe, and India.
PATH TO ORBITAL LAUNCH
Agnikul, founded in 2017 by IIT Madras alumni, aims to debut Agnibaan SOrTeD (Single Orbit Transfer Demonstration) from its private launchpad at Sriharikota by early 2026.
The semi-cryogenic engines, using liquid oxygen and aviation fuel, represent a leap from solid and cryogenic boosters dominating ISRO’s fleet. Previous milestones include the world’s first 3D-printed semi-cryo engine static fire in 2023 and captive tests earlier this year.
This aligns with India’s space reforms fostering private participation, targeting 50 annual launches by 2029.
The test accelerates Agnikul’s role in the commercial small satellite market, complementing ISRO’s heavy-lift LVM3 missions like the upcoming BlueBird 6 launch. As India eyes a Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, innovations like these bridge the gap in turnaround times versus global pacesetters, promising affordable access to space for startups and global clients.
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