Indian Space Industry : Updates & Discussions

2nd stage of the Agnikul Cosmos' Agnibaan rocket has been fabricated.


View attachment 21469

Agnikul's 2nd stage KEROLOX semi-cryogenic engine :


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Known Specs of the Agnite/Agnilet engine :

Propellant: LOX/Kerosene semi-cryogenic
Thrust: 25.3 kN (Sea Level)
Specific Impulse: 285 sec (Sea Level) & 355 sec (Vacuum Optimized)
Engine cycle: Gas generator (probably)
Feed: Pressure fed (for now)/Electric pump fed(soon)
Cooling: Integrated Regenerative cooling

Also L&T seems to be getting into the space start up action.

 
Agnikul's 2nd stage KEROLOX semi-cryogenic engine :


1635259839703.png

1635259893082.png


Known Specs of the Agnite/Agnilet engine :

Propellant: LOX/Kerosene semi-cryogenic
Thrust: 25.3 kN (Sea Level)
Specific Impulse: 285 sec (Sea Level) & 355 sec (Vacuum Optimized)
Engine cycle: Gas generator (probably)
Feed: Pressure fed (for now)/Electric pump fed(soon)
Cooling: Integrated Regenerative cooling
More photos:
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Wonder if this is the actual launch pad & launch tower design or just a mock up. Looks good though:
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When will it lift off into the space? Do they have any timeline? Looks very promising for such a small startup. Even components quickly looks top notch.
If successful, it has potential to revolutionise Indian space industry.
As per Greeb Scientist YouTuber, this cryogenic engine is a TD may be a Higher thrust engine that will be developed for future launch, Skyroot launch will de be done using a solid rocket motor in Phase 1 then they will expand to Cryogenic engine using methane as a propellant. So overall good progress by Skyroot and don't forget this is 3D printed.
 
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As per Greeb Scientist YouTuber, this cryogenic engine is a TD may be a Higher thrust engine that will be developed for future launch, Skyroot launch will de be done using a solid rocket motor in Phase 1 then they will expand to Cryogenic engine using methane as a propellant. So overall good progress by Skyroot and don't forget this is 3D printed.
Gareeb Scientist 😀
Yes , It’s a TD as apparent from the size. But they seem like very methodical group. So scaling up will not be much difficult for them, given ISRO too is willing to help these guys.
This demonstration was for cryogenic engine? As it looks like liquid fuel system. Solid rocket motor are generally very smoky and produce erratic flame.
Q4 2022 is their target for first launch
That’s quick
 
Last edited:
Govt may include Indian space-tech startups in human spaceflight programs

By Shouvik Das
Updated: 22 Dec 2021, 08:12 AM IST
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The space policies expected in 2022 include space transportation, humans in space policy, remote sensing, satellite communications and much more. (Pic: Indian private sector launchers under development)

NEW DELHI: While India prepares to launch humans into space over the next couple of years, the Union government is likely to tweak its draft 'Humans in Space Policy 2021' document to include private space-tech startups in the program, say industry experts.

Pawan Kumar Chandana, chief executive officer of Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace, believes the Indian space policy in 2022 will define the role that private startups will play in the nation’s human spaceflight ambitions. “The space policies expected in 2022 include space transportation, humans in space policy, remote sensing, satellite communications and much more. The humans in space policy will apply to private players as well, and most of the upcoming regulations will be focused on catering to private entities in the space ecosystem," he asserted.

Skyroot Aerospace, alongside fellow startup Agnikul Cosmos, are two Indian space startups that are building their own rockets. Both recently showcased and test-fired their engines, of which both are largely made on Indian soil. Both Skyroot and Agnikul Cosmos are set to launch their first rockets into space in 2022.

Chaitanya Giri, founder of space analysis and intelligence firm Dawon A&I, concurred that the Indian spaceflight policy defining the role of private entities in human missions will likely come “at the juncture of the two uncrewed Gaganyaan test missions scheduled for 2022."

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), however, was yet to respond to an email for a comment on its upcoming policy at the time of going to press.

Jitendra Singh, union minister of state for the department of space and atomic energy, recently told Parliament that Gaganyaan--India’s manned space mission--will launch in 2023. The first manned Gaganyaan mission will take place in early second-half of 2022. The second uncrewed mission, scheduled for the end of 2022, will include Vyommitra--a humanoid robot developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
India's own space station, meanwhile, is being earmarked for the year 2030, Singh further stated at the Parliament.

While the private Indian space industry, which includes space-tech startups, is expecting directives from the government on their specific roles in manned missions, they do not expect the missions themselves to take off any time soon due to lack of adequate funds for private startups, and the government’s need to understand the sector better.

“I see a horizon of 2035 and onward for human spaceflight involving private Indian players. The government needs prior expertise in this sector, and they already have bigger money bags than private players. The 2030 Indian space station plan, which would follow the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, will happen within the government’s overview. This will be an inter-ministerial mission. Protocols and mechanisms from multiple ministries working on such projects would then be carried forward -- to allow in private startups and industry players gradually," explained Giri.

Homegrown space-tech startups, however, are not waiting--they already have plans involving human spaceflights. “We are into manufacturing rockets, and one of the very attractive long-term markets is human transport -- be it for tourism, exploration or other space-based services. This will be a natural evolution for us, but we’ll take time to mature to a level when we can launch human missions," Chandana said.

Giri, however, cautioned that while the prospect of human spaceflight from Indian soil is attractive, the sector must not become overly dependent on it.

“The Indian space industry must not depend heavily on its civilian space programme. For commercial services, we should try to make sure that areas such as manufacturing of satellite constellations are facilitated in India -- instead of purchasing or sourcing from a foreign entity. We must ask questions around why launches are to be held from foreign soil -- and why our own Isro’s PSLV is not to be used for the launch?"

Giri added that private space players in the country can boost their revenue to eventually build up to human missions by "picking-up commercial contracts, and catering to the country’s own defence sector’s space-related needs".

Govt may include Indian space-tech startups in human spaceflight programmes
 
Bellatrix Aerospace is down and over wrt launch vehicle program. It's Chetak won't be happening.

That leaves Skyroot and AgniKul Cosmos.
 

In all probability one of the first tv interview by S Somnath Director ISRO . By the looks of it the first manned flight won't happen before 2027.
 
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