Space News

India

The maiden test launch of the Agnibaan rocket, developed by Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos, has been postponed for the third time due to technical reasons. Scheduled to take place from India's first private Launchpad – ALP-01 – located at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the mission, named SOrTeD (Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator), aims to demonstrate the functionality of the first rocket stage. This stage will power future missions of the two-stage launch vehicle, capable of carrying payloads of up to 300 kg into orbits approximately 700 km above Earth.

Agnikul Cosmos, the second private spaceflight company in India after Skyroot, collaborated with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop the launchpad. The postponement of the maiden test launch represents a setback for Agnikul Cosmos, as they seek to establish themselves in the burgeoning private space industry. Skyroot, the first private spaceflight company in India, has already conducted successful tests of its Vikram-1 rocket.

Despite the delays, Agnikul Cosmos remains committed to demonstrating the capabilities of the Agnibaan rocket. The postponements highlight the complexities and challenges involved in space exploration, particularly for emerging private enterprises. The company continues to work closely with ISRO to address technical issues and prepare for a successful test launch in the near future.