Indian startup Agnikul successfully carried out the first suborbital launch of a rocket with a unique engine made using 3D printing, Liter.kz reports with reference to Techcrunch.
As the publication notes, the project, which has been in development for two years, has encountered a number of technical setbacks in recent months, but the team was able to fix the problems.
“The 20-foot-long, carbon composite rocket has a takeoff weight of 1,268 pounds and is powered by a semi-cryogenic engine that is entirely 3D printed. The launch of the Agnibaan SorTeD launch vehicle took place at the mobile launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Center on the island of Sriharikota in South India. After a successful launch, the rocket landed in the Bay of Bengal,” the source said.
According to the creators, it takes 72 to 75 hours to print one rocket engine, and the startup can produce two finished engines per week. This is significantly faster than the traditional process, which can take 10 to 12 weeks to create a rocket engine of comparable size.
“A distinctive feature is a monolithic component, where no person is involved in the process. The product obtained from the printer is completely ready for use, without the need for welding or additional processing,” the authors note.
Other companies have also used 3D printing in the production of their rockets, but Agnikul was the first in the world to use this technology to fully produce rocket engines.
Earlier it was reported that a flying taxi would be launched in India by the end of 2024.
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2024-05-31 20:12:59