A test flight of India’s Agnikul Cosmos’ maiden rocket was cancelled seconds before it was scheduled to take off, marking the fourth such cancellation in the last three months. Technical problems have caused three previous launch aborts of India’s second privately produced rocket, the first of which used a combination of gas and liquid fuel. One of the cancellations occurred just ninety seconds prior to liftoff.
Officials announced that a technical fault in the countdown activities caused the launch, which was originally scheduled for May 28, 2024, at 5:45 a.m. IST (0015 GMT), to be delayed by fewer than six minutes. As a result, a new lift-off time of 9:25 a.m. was established. Nevertheless, the launch was cancelled completely and placed on “temporary hold to check igniter performance” with just five seconds remaining before liftoff.
How does a semi-cryogenic engine work?
As propellants, a semi-cryogenic engine combines liquid oxygen (LOX) with a hydrocarbon fuel, usually kerosene. This kind of engine offers a compromise between performance and handling ease by combining the high efficiency of cryogenic oxidizers with the high density of hydrocarbon fuels.
How does a flight termination system work?
A safety device called a flight termination system (FTS) is meant to bring down a rocket should it stray from its planned trajectory and endanger public safety. Agnikul’s launch included a FTS, demonstrating the extensive safety protocols in place.
Agnikul Cosmos: What is It?
The space start-up Agnikul Cosmos, with its headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to creating and launching rockets. Its goal is to offer tiny satellites accessible and reasonably priced space launch choices. Agnikul Cosmos, which was established in 2017, is becoming a prominent participant in the expanding private space market in India.
Features of the establishment
The Agnikul mission control centre and launchpad are the two sections of the complex, and they are located four kilometres apart. Liquid stage-controlled launches are supported and accommodated by the launchpad’s design. This launchpad will be used by Agnikul Cosmos to launch their Agnibaan rocket.
Significance
The launchpad was constructed expressly to meet the requirement that the range operations team of ISRO keep an eye on critical flight safety parameters while conducting launches. It can also exchange data and other important information with ISRO’s Mission Control Center.
What is the maiden rocket, Agnibaan?
Designed and manufactured entirely in India, Agnilet is the world’s first single-piece 3-D printed engine. It was successfully tested in early 2021, making Agnikul the first firm in the nation to test its engines at ISRO.
Specifications
A 100-kg payload may be launched into a low-Earth orbit and reach an altitude of 700 kilometres with the Agnibaan rocket, a two-stage launch vehicle measuring 18 metres in height and 1.3 diameter in width. Liquid oxygen (LOX), which is stored in the tank under cryogenic temperatures, and kerosene power the rocket. A “thrust vector controlled, gimballed motor” is another element of the rocket that enables the nozzle to be adjusted to different angles, allowing the thrust to change the direction of flight.
Flight Details
Agnibaan will make its suborbital first flight; this implies the rocket won’t go into space on its first launch. The rocket will launch into fully guided vertical ascent flight from India’s spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Engine Mechanism
The two stages of Agnikul’s vehicle are the “Agnite” engine cluster in the first stage and the “Agnilet” engine in the second. Both engines are semi-cryogenic, utilising supercooled liquid oxygen in conjunction with refined kerosene that is kept at normal temperature. Technical problems have caused three previous launch aborts of India’s second privately produced rocket, the first of which used a combination of gas and liquid fuel. One of the cancellations occurred just ninety seconds prior to liftoff.
Officials announced that a technical fault in the countdown activities delayed the launch by fewer than six minutes. The launch was originally scheduled for May 28, 2024, at 5:45 a.m. IST (0015 GMT). As a result, a new lift-off time of 9:25 a.m. was established. Nevertheless, the launch was cancelled entirely and placed on “temporary hold to check igniter performance”, with just five seconds remaining before liftoff.
