India’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Launched:
Chennai-based start-up Agnikul Cosmos has launched the world’s first rocket, Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), powered by a fully 3D-printed engine.
- It aims to conduct a test flight to showcase the company’s internally developed technologies and gather important flight data.
- This has achieved several firsts for the Indian space ecosystem i.e. launch from a private pad (Dhanush), homegrown semi-cryo engine-powered rocket launch and the world’s 1st single-piece 3D printed engine.
- It uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellant.
- Launch was supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
- 3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing which uses materials such as plastics and metals to convert products envisaged on computer-aided design to real three-dimensional items.
- It is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing which is cutting out/hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with, for instance, a milling machine.
