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Science Cartoon by Vishal K. Muliya is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://vkmuliya.blogspot.com.
Extra-ordinary success of India: World's first single piece
3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine Launched by an Indian startup Agnikul
Cosmos.
Agnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based space start-up, has achieved
a significant milestone by successfully launching the world's first
single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket engine. Founded in 2017, Agnikul
Cosmos operates India's first private launchpad and mission control center,
located within the National Center for Combustion R&D (NCRD) at IIT Madras.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment for India's burgeoning private space
industry.
The successful mission, named the Agnibaan Sub Orbital
Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), was a sub-orbital test flight that lasted
approximately 1 minute and 29 seconds. This launch showcased the Agnibaan
rocket, a 6.2-meter-tall, single-stage launch vehicle equipped with an
elliptical nose cone and advanced avionics architecture. The autopilot software
for Agnibaan was developed in-house, highlighting Agnikul's capabilities in
developing cutting-edge space technology.
A notable feature of the Agnibaan rocket is its Agnilet
engine. This engine is remarkable for being entirely 3D-printed in a single
piece, a first in the world for semi-cryogenic engines. The Agnilet engine can
generate approximately 3kN of thrust at sea level and powers the higher stage
of the Agnibaan rocket. This innovative approach reduces the complexity and
potential points of failure associated with multi-part engines.
The successful launch of the Agnibaan rocket did not come
without challenges. The mission was initially postponed just 92 seconds before
liftoff due to technical issues on April 7. After four failed attempts, the
test flight was finally carried out without live-streaming and with fewer
dignitaries present at the Sriharikota launch pad, located within ISRO's Satish
Dhawan Space Centre.
The data gathered from this mission will be instrumental in
refining the Agnibaan launch vehicle, which is expected to be highly
customizable. The vehicle is designed to carry payloads of up to 300kg to a
700km orbit, providing significant versatility for various space missions.
The successful launch was met with congratulations from
notable figures in India's space sector. ISRO congratulated Agnikul Cosmos,
terming the launch as a major milestone. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the Indian
National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), expressed his
elation at the achievement, highlighting the brilliance of India's young
innovators. Lt Gen A K Bhatt (retd), Director General of the Indian Space
Association (ISpA), also lauded the success, seeing it as a boost for India's private
space industry and a glimpse into its promising future.
Agnikul Cosmos' achievement aligns with India's broader
ambitions in space exploration. The country aims to establish the 'Bharatiya
Antariksha Station' by 2035 and send the first Indian to the Moon by 2040. This
successful launch not only demonstrates the capabilities of Agnikul Cosmos but
also positions India as a formidable player in the global space industry. The
development of indigenous space technology, as evidenced by the Agnibaan SOrTeD
mission, is a testament to India's growing prowess in this field and its
commitment to advancing space exploration.
The loudest animal in the world is the sperm whale, capable of producing clicking sounds reaching 230 decibels. These sounds, used for communication and echolocation, can be heard for miles underwater.
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking technique to synthesize diamonds at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature within just 15 minutes. Researchers used a gallium-nickel-iron mixture with a bit of silicon in a graphite crucible, flushing superhot, carbon-rich methane gas through it. The process holds potential for technological applications like polishing and drilling, but its commercial impact remains to be seen.
The number 1729, known as the Hardy-Ramanujan number, is the smallest
number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two distinct ways (1³ +
12³ and 9³ + 10³). This discovery was famously highlighted in an
anecdote involving the renowned mathematicians G.H. Hardy and Srinivasa
Ramanujan.
