Finance
India launched its first reusable hybrid rocket, the ‘RHUMI-1’, developed by Tamil Nadu-based start-up Space Zone India in collaboration with the Martin Group, from Thiruvidandhai in Chennai on Saturday (August 24, 2024).
The rocket, which was carrying three Cube Satellites and fifty PICO Satellites, was launched into a suborbital trajectory using a mobile launcher. These satellites will collect data for study into global warming and climate change.
Equipped with a generic-fuel-based hybrid motor and electrically triggered parachute deployer, the rocket is 100 per cent pyrotechnic-free and 0 per cent TNT.
“The demand for small satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is increasing in India,” said Anand Megalingam, founder and CEO of Space Zone, in a company blog post, before the launch.
This, he said, prompted “the company to focus on capturing the small satellite market while employing a Hybrid Propulsion system to ensure cost-effectiveness”.
Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, the Moon Man of India and former Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), led Mission RHUMI, with Megalingam serving as its Mission Director.
Another important characteristic of RHUMI-1 is its angle, which can be fine-tuned from 0 to 120 degrees, allowing for accurate trajectory control.
The business has also developed an innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly fall mechanism to enable the safe recovery of rocket components.
The RHUMI-1 rocket uses both liquid and solid fuel propellant systems, which not only increases efficiency and lowers operational costs but also ensures environmental safety.
The rocket’s possibilities extend beyond space exploration to include agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management, according to the corporation.
Reusability allows space businesses to reuse the most expensive parts of the rocket. This can in turn lower the cost of space access, open outer space for business, and also help create new services like direct-to-device satellite connectivity.
In February 2023, Space Zone India launched India’s first hybrid rocket from the Atomic Research Centre in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The business has built several rockets, including the RHUMI-1, RHUMI-2, and RHUMI-3, each designed for altitudes ranging from 1 km to 500 km.
In addition, the business built and developed its own ground-supporting equipment for rocket launches, resulting in portable launch systems that can be moved from one area to another without the need for big vehicles.
The company next aims to seek investors for its upcoming rocket launches.
Source: IANS
