Agnikul Cosmos Tests World’s Largest Single-Piece 3D-Printed Rocket Engine Agnite

Key facts

• Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-fired Agnite, which is the world’s largest single-piece 3D-printed booster engine.
• The Agnite engine is approximately one metre in length and is manufactured using Inconel, a high-performance alloy designed to withstand extreme temperatures.
• The 3D-printing process allows the entire engine to be produced in seven days, representing a 90–97% reduction in traditional manufacturing time.
• The engine utilizes electric motor-driven pumps instead of conventional gas-generator systems to simplify design and reduce mechanical complexity.
• The propulsion test was conducted at the startup’s in-house facility located in Chennai.
• Agnikul Cosmos is incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and is developing the Agnibaan launch vehicle.
• The startup recently achieved the synchronised firing of three semi-cryogenic engines, marking a first for the private space sector in India.
• The company is valued at over $500 million and aims to provide faster access to space for small satellite launches.