Context: Recently, AgniKul Cosmos, a space tech start-up based in Chennai, set to launch their groundbreaking Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD), the world's first 3D-printed rocket into space.

• Agnibaan SOrTeD will be the first step towards launching the world’s first 3D-printed rocket into space.

About SOrTeD

• Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by AgniKul’s patented Agnilet engine, which is an entirely 3D-printed, single-piece, 6 kilonewton (kN) semi-cryogenic engine.

• The Agnibaan SOrTeD is a customisable launch vehicle that could be launched in one or two stages. It is powered by AgniKul’s patented Agnilet engine.

• Unlike traditional sounding rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will lift off vertically and follow a predetermined trajectory to perform a precisely orchestrated set of manoeuvres during flight. 

Features

• It is a customisable launch vehicle that could be launched in one or two stages.

• The rocket stands 18 metres tall and has a mass of 14,000 kg.

• It is capable of carrying payloads up to 100 kg to an altitude of 700 km in five different configurations.

• The rocket's first stage could have up to seven Agnilet engines, depending on the mission, which are powered by Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene.

• The rocket is also designed for launch from more than 10 different launch ports. 

• To ensure its compatibility with multiple launch ports, AgniKul has built a launch pedestal named 'Dhanush' that will support the rocket's mobility across all its configurations.

• The Agnilet engine, which powers the entire operation, is the world’s sole single-piece 3D-printed engine.