Agnikul Cosmos Opens Chennai Facilities to Develop Reusable Rocket Technology

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated two new assembly and testing facilities in Chennai as it expands its capabilities for developing reusable launch systems.

The company has opened the Stage Testing & Inspection Facility, known as STIF, and the Pressurant Tank Realisation, Over-wrapping and Outfitting Facility, called PROOF, at its Assembly and Testing Facility.

The new infrastructure strengthens Agnikul's plans to develop a reusable launch vehicle capable of being tested, flown, recovered, inspected and prepared for another mission. The facilities were inaugurated in the presence of Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.

Agnikul said the expansion could help position the company among a small group of organisations worldwide working towards reusable orbital rocket technology. The startup also claims to be the only Indian private space company with infrastructure designed to inspect and requalify rocket stages after flight.

The STIF facility has been designed and developed in-house to test reusable rocket stages under conditions similar to those experienced during an actual mission. It can conduct full-stage tests with propulsion and avionics systems integrated.

The facility is capable of testing clusters of Agnikul's patented single-piece, semi-cryogenic, electric pump-fed and 3D-printed rocket engines. STIF supports thrust levels ranging from 1 kN to 200 kN and can conduct liquid oxygen sub-cooling down to 73 Kelvin.

The testing infrastructure can also support full-duration engine burns of up to 150 seconds. One of its key capabilities is the inspection and requalification of rocket stages recovered after a mission.

This capability is expected to support Agnikul's reusable rocket programme by enabling a complete cycle involving rocket manufacturing, testing, launch, recovery, inspection and preparation for future flights.

The second facility, PROOF, focuses on the in-house manufacturing of high-pressure composite overwrapped pressure vessels. The facility can manufacture more than 10 vessels per month, including components with capacities of up to 3,500 litres and pressure ratings of up to 350 bar.

By manufacturing critical components internally, Agnikul aims to reduce its dependence on external suppliers while improving control over quality standards and production schedules.

Agnikul's Mission-01, launched on May 30, 2024, demonstrated a controlled ascent using the company's single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine and in-house autopilot system.

With the addition of STIF and PROOF, the Chennai-based space startup is expanding its capabilities beyond engines and vehicle systems to include stage-level testing, recovery assessment and critical component manufacturing.

The new facilities form part of Agnikul's preparations for Mission-02, which is expected to advance the company's efforts towards developing reusable rocket technology and reusable launch systems in India.