AgniKul Cosmos's 'Agnibaan' Rocket to be test-launched from Alaska's Pacific Spaceport Complex

01 Oct 2020 13:12:27
Chennai, October 1: In order to take the homegrown product further as a global solution to customers across the world, Chennai based aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test-launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket. The agreement was a part of its plan to launch its rocket from a foreign rocket.
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In a tweet, Agnikul Cosmos said, “It’s exactly 1 year since we presented our #MadeInIndia solution to honorable PM Shri @narendramodi Ji. Today, humbled to take our homegrown product further as a global solution to customers across the world. Thank you, Alaska Aerospace.” This partnership is the first step of many in achieving AgniKul’s goal of “moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model.”
 
 
The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures, and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA. Under this agreement, Agnikul Cosmos will test-launch its ‘Agnibaan’ rocket from Alaska Aerospace’s Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska on Kodiak Island in the US.
 
Apart from this Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals such as US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and others along with necessary clearances from the concerned Indian authorities.
 
Agnibaan is a highly customizable, 2 stage launch vehicle. It is capable of taking up to 100 kg to orbits around 700 km high. Agnibaan can access both low and high inclination orbits and is completely mobile - designed for accessing more than 10 launch ports.
 

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Taking about the launch Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO Agnikul Cosmos said, “Our first preference is to use Indian rocket ports at Sriharikota or the upcoming one at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu (both belonging to the Indian Space Research Organisation). If the customer prefers the launch to happen from some other country, we will ship the rocket and launch from there.” He added that "It will be a first step in making space access truly available anywhere, anytime, affordably for our customers. "
 
 
“We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President, and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. He further added that Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world.Earlier this year Agnikul signed an MoU with Italian company Leaf Space for ground station services.
 
AgniKul Cosmos wad founded in 2016 by engineers and space enthusiasts Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM, AgniKul is a space tech startup that helps in designing and launching orbital-class rockets for micro and nanosatellites. The Alaska Aerospace Corporation was established by the State of Alaska to develop a high technology aerospace industry in the state.
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