The Department of Space has signed a framework MoU with Agnikul Cosmos that will permit the aerospace start off-up access to Indian Space Research Organisation facilities and knowledge for the development and testing of space-launch automobile subsystems/systems, Press Trust of India reported.
The pact will allow Agnikul Cosmos undertake tests and access facilities at ISRO centres to testing its 3D-printed, single-piece, semi-cryo engine and other systems.
Agnikul Cosmos, based in the National Centre for Combustion R&D at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, will also use ISRO’s technical knowledge to test its launch automobile systems and subsystems.
The MoU will formally allow Agnikul Cosmos to move forward with its plans for testing at ISRO.
The start off-up, which earlier this year raised $11 million in Series A funding, tweeted that low- Earth orbit looked close with this level of government assistance.
Agnikul Cosmos officials also met ISRO Chairman and Department of Science Secretary K. Sivan, who assured assistance for qualifying its launch-automobile systems.
The Department of Science last week signed a equivalent MoU with Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based start off-up, for access to ISRO knowledge and facilities to create and test space-launch automobile subsystems/systems.
Earlier this week, Sivan inaugurated Bellatrix Aerospace’s spacecraft analysis laboratory at the Indian Institute of Science campus in Bengaluru. Infrastructure for the privately funded propulsion lab contains in-residence facilities to create and test green and electric chemical propulsion technologies, ISRO mentioned.
The Centre’s draft National Space Transportation Policy envisages continued focus on analysis and development of green fuel, when encouraging private players to invest in the space sector with policy reforms.
According to the draft policy, it was necessary to have focused analysis on new propulsion systems based on green propellants.
Sivan hailed the young group for setting up the state-of-the art facility with gear such as catalytic reactors, integrated thermal higher-vacuum test facilities, specialised higher-temperature coating facilities, and propellant preparation facilities.