Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos announced at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 in Sydney that it is aggressively pursuing full rocket reusability, committing to designs in which no portion of its rockets is left behind or expended.
Building on its in-house development strengths and a portfolio of patents across the US, Europe, and India in reusability and multi-purpose systems, Agnikul aims to scale launch vehicles that support cost-effective refurbishment and repeated flights. Its strategy includes a semi-cryogenic propellant architecture and integrated satellite/rocket technologies to ease turnaround and reduce launch expense.
Speaking at IAC, Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and co-founder, said the company’s ethos has always favoured affordability and flexibility at the design stage. He expressed gratitude toward IN-SPACe and ISRO for enabling rocket stage recovery and reuse policies, helping create a supportive environment for testing these frontier technologies.
Agnikul’s roadmap includes the Agnibaan launch vehicle line, designed to carry small satellites into orbit on demand. The startup recently commissioned a new additive manufacturing facility in Chennai to lower production costs by up to 50% and support end-to-end development.
Last year, Agnikul successfully executed a controlled-ascent test flight using engines 3D-printed in house, proprietary autopilot systems, and its own launchpad. That mission set the stage for pushing toward reusable flight cycles.
With space debris and cost pressures mounting globally, India’s bet on reusable small launchers is gathering momentum. Agnikul Cosmos’s commitment could strengthen India’s role in the commercial space sector and push toward more sustainable, efficient access to orbit.
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