Space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated Rocket Factory 1, India’s first facility to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai.
The unit was unveiled by N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Sons, and S Somanath, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in the presence of Pawan Goenka, chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
The factory is located at IIT Madras Research Park and is spread across 10,000 square feet. It houses a metal 3D printer from EOS and several other machines to enable end-to-end manufacturing of rocket engines under one roof.
According to the company, the facility has the capacity to make two rocket engines per week and thereby launch one vehicle each month. At full scale, it will have nearly 30-35 people working on various processes and machinery, and the factor has already been staffed with over 90 per cent staff.
