Ex-ISRO Chairman Somanath Joins Agnikul Board as Observer

Space technology startup Agnikul Cosmos has appointed former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Dr Somanath S as an observer to its board. This appointment comes ahead of Agnikul's second upcoming space mission.

The mission is set to involve the recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster and the extension of a rocket's upper stage into an on-orbit platform. Dr. Somanath, who previously led India's rocket development at ISRO, brings extensive experience in booster design and orbital operations to Agnikul as the company prepares for this complex undertaking.

Agnikul plans to showcase its two-stage Agnibaan rocket configuration. The first stage is intended for a controlled descent and ocean recovery, while the upper stage will demonstrate extended on-orbit capability by transforming into a functional platform after payload deployment. The company holds patents for this convertible upper-stage architecture in India, the United States, and Europe.

This development aligns with India's broader ambitions in the space sector, with increasing government support for domestic space technology companies. The global space industry, valued at approximately $350 billion, is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2040, highlighting the growing opportunities for private players like Agnikul.