Former ISRO chairman S Somanath joins Agnikul board ahead of reusable rocket test

S Somanath, the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has joined the board of Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos in an advisory capacity as the company gears up for its most ambitious rocket mission to date. This upcoming endeavor, designated as Mission 02, aims to retrieve the first stage of its Agnibaan rocket post-launch, while simultaneously testing the upper stage's capability to sustain orbit and function as an operational platform after deploying a satellite. This mission signifies a notable advancement from Agnikul's initial test in May 2024, which involved a controlled suborbital flight from its privately constructed launchpad at Sriharikota. During Mission 02, the first-stage booster will detach from the upper stage, execute a controlled descent, and be successfully recovered from the ocean. Meanwhile, the upper stage will assess a new architecture that allows it to remain operational in orbit instead of being discarded after payload deployment. The recovery of rockets has emerged as a crucial focus for launch companies, as reusable boosters can substantially reduce manufacturing costs and enable more frequent launches. However, this process demands meticulous coordination across propulsion, guidance, avionics, and structural systems. "Mission 02 calls for a significant enhancement in our engineering rigor," stated Moin SPM, co-founder and chief operating officer of Agnikul. "Recovering the booster necessitates precision at every level, and the extension of the upper stage ventures into areas that few teams around the globe have explored." Somanath, who played a pivotal role at ISRO during significant missions such as Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1, will provide critical guidance as Agnikul navigates these intricate technical challenges. "This is not just a ceremonial position for us; it's a meaningful collaboration at a crucial time," noted Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul. Somanath has expressed keen interest in the company's advancements and considers Mission 02 a major engineering milestone. "This mission represents a true technical frontier for India and, in many ways, for the world," he emphasized. He highlighted the strategic importance of the convertible upper stage, indigenous semi-cryogenic propulsion, and the rapidly producible 3D-printed engine as a solid technical approach.