The Ministry of Science and Technology has announced its support for Agnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based aerospace startup, to develop and commercialise the "Agnibaan" launch vehicle.

• This highly customisable two-stage rocket is designed to deliver payloads of up to 300 kg to orbits at an altitude of 700 km, aiming to make satellite launches more accessible and affordable.
• The initiative is backed by the Technology Development Board (TDB), which has sanctioned financial assistance for the project titled "Development and Commercialisation of Modular Configurable Launch Vehicle for 100 Kg Payload."
• This funding will facilitate the creation of a launch vehicle that meets diverse mission requirements while reducing lead times for satellite launches to just two weeks.
• The Agnibaan vehicle is poised to revolutionise the satellite launch ecosystem by offering dedicated launches and operational flexibility through mobile launch systems that can be deployed globally.