Agnikul Cosmos successfully fires its electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic engine

Agnikul Cosmos on Friday announced the successful firing of its electric motor-driven semi-cryogenic engine, the first-of-its-kind engine in India.

In a video of the firing shared on social media by Agnikul Cosmos, the engine can be seen being throttled across a wide range of thrusts by varying the speed of the electric motor.

“Electric motor-driven throttling allows for higher accuracy and rapid response — important features for handling complex trajectories. Also, regarding flight readiness, this test is a key milestone towards firing a cluster of engines together,” Agnikul said.

The system will use the start-up’s signature single-piece engine that it has always used.

Along with the patented engine, many sub-systems of the pump were also 3D-printed and assembled at the company’s Rocket Factory – 1 at IIT-Madras Research Park in Chennai. The motor drives and associated control software were also fully designed and developed in-house.

A semi-cryogenic engine is a type of rocket engine that uses a combination of liquid oxygen, a cryogenic oxidizer, along with a non-cryogenic fuel like refined kerosene. In such an engine, an electric motor is used to power the pumps that circulate the propellants.

Published on May 23, 2025