Indian startup unveils testing & manufacturing hubs to validate reusable rocket stages
Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has opened two new facilities in Chennai to advance its reusable rocket technology. These hubs will allow the company to test rocket stages and manufacture pressure vessels in-house to support future missions.
Why it matters
Developing reusable launch vehicles is essential for reducing the cost of space access, marking a significant milestone for India's growing private space sector.
NEW DELHI: In a giant step towards attaining reusable launch vehicle technology like Elon Musk's SpaceX, Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated two new assembly and testing facilities in Chennai.The company unveiled the Stage Testing & Inspection Facility (STIF) and the Pressurant Tank Realisation, Over-wrapping and Outfitting Facility (PROOF) at its assembly and testing facility. The facilities were inaugurated in the presence of Group Captain and Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla.STIF is a fully in-house facility for testing reusable rocket stages under flight-like operating conditions. The facility also supports post-flight inspection and requalification of recovered stages. It supports thrust levels from 1 kN to 200 kN, LOX sub-cooling down to 73 K and full-duration burns of up to 150 seconds.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in