DST-backed Combustion Research Sparks India's Low-Cost Space Tech Startup

Supported by DST, NCCRD is the world's largest combustion research centre, focusing on automotive, thermal power, aerospace propulsion, fire research, and microgravity combustion. Check details here

The National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD), supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is the world's largest combustion research centre. It specialises in automotive, thermal power, aerospace propulsion, fire research, and microgravity combustion. In addition to academic research and training, NCCRD collaborates closely with industrial and R&D organizations, developing state-of-the-art capabilities in combustion research.

The NCCRD served as the training ground for Agnikul. Here, they learned the intricacies of rocket building, which was crucial for the startup in the early stages of developing their technology. Additionally, Pravartak Technologies, another Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) funded by DST and based at IIT Madras, partnered with Agnikul to develop and commercialize technologies for space and deep space exploration.

Agnikul: Startup in space-tech

The launch vehicle has been developed by Agnikul, a space-tech startup incubated at the Incubation Cell, IIT Madras, a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) supported by the DST. Agnikul was featured at the startup expo during DST’s Startup Utsav in August 2022. The startup operates out of the NCCRD at IIT Madras, which is also supported by DST.

Agnikul's groundbreaking achievement is the engine which assembles the individual components, a feature that makes it unique. It is manufactured with high-grade aerospace materials making it more reliable. This also reduces the realization time and facilitates faster manufacturing as compared to traditionally manufactured engines.

Agnibaan

Agnibaan, India's first launch vehicle to utilize a powerful and compact electric drive for propellant feeding, incorporates several groundbreaking technologies. Its in-house developed high-speed motor controller delivers high power at high frequencies, with noise from switching high voltages mitigated by proper shielding and earthing. Agnibaan features the world's first single-piece 3D-printed engine and a configurable vehicle design, ensuring consistent launch costs across a payload mass range of 30 kg to 300 kg.

Launch of Agnibaan SorTeD by the DST -TBI supported startup helped achieve the world's first flight with a single-piece patented rocket engine, India's first semi-cryogenic engine flight, first flight with Ethernet-based avionics architecture, and stands as the first controlled ascent flight from India.

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