Ashwin Prasad
Launch Vehicle Startups in India
Accessing space is now easier than ever, creating new growth and innovation opportunities. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle ( SSLV ) to enable quick and flexible on-demand launches, complementing its existing fleet of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV) for heavier payloads.
The private space industry in India is also making significant strides in improving the country’s launch capabilities. Leading the charge are the two startups, Skyroot and Agnikul. In 2022, Skyroot tested a suborbital-sounding rocket from Sriharikota. Following suit, Agnikul has successfully carried out its maiden suborbital flight test. Despite being 18 months behind Skyroot, Agnikul has tested a more advanced rocket in its fifth attempt.
Semi-Cryogenic Advantage
Agnibaan is a rocket powered by a 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine. Cryogenic and semi-cryogenic rocket engines offer much higher energy density and specific impulse than traditional solid- and liquid-fueled engines. Specific impulse measures the engine’s efficiency in converting propellant to thrust. It is essentially the rocket’s ‘mileage’. Semi-cryogenic engines are the most popular rocket engines used today. Compared to solid-fuelled variants, semi-cryogenic engines allow for higher variability of thrust—the ability to throttle.
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