Chennai: Dr Somanath S, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has joined Agnikul Cosmos as an Observer on its Board of Directors as the Chennai-based private launch vehicle company prepares for its most technically ambitious mission yet – Mission 02.
The appointment of Dr Somanath S comes ahead of Mission 02, which will attempt, for the first time in India, the recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster and the extension of a rocket’s upper stage into an on-orbit platform.
According to Agnikul Cosmos, these milestones represent India’s first significant step toward rocket reusability, a technology that has transformed the economics of global space launches.
Mission 02 to Attempt Two Major Technological Milestones
Mission 02 will feature a two-stage Agnibaan launch vehicle configuration. Following stage separation, the first-stage booster will attempt a controlled descent and ocean recovery.
Simultaneously, the upper stage will demonstrate extended on-orbit capability by converting itself into a functional platform instead of becoming expendable after deploying its payload.
Agnikul Cosmos said it holds patents in India, the United States and Europe for its convertible upper-stage architecture. The technology enables the same hardware used to deploy satellites to continue operating as an in-orbit asset after mission completion.
The company noted that neither booster recovery nor this type of upper-stage conversion has previously been demonstrated at this scale in India.
Rocket Reusability Becomes a Global Benchmark
The global launch industry has increasingly shifted towards reusable launch systems.
SpaceX has completed more than 650 Falcon 9 booster flights using reusable first stages, with some boosters flying up to 35 missions.
Companies including Blue Origin and Rocket Lab are also advancing reusable launch vehicle programmes.
Agnikul Cosmos stated that for India’s growing private space sector, Mission 02 represents an opportunity to demonstrate indigenous reusable launch capabilities through a private launchpad using a 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine that can be manufactured within seven days.
Also Read: ICEYE and Agnikul Cosmos Partner to Explore Sovereign SAR Satellite Systems from India
Srinath Ravichandran on the Appointment of Dr Somanath S
Commenting on the appointment of Dr Somanath S, Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos, said:
“Dr. Somanath’s career is, in many ways, the story of Indian rocketry. He led ISRO through some of its most defining missions, LVM3, SSLV & RLV, Gaganyaan-Test Vehicle, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and has spent decades thinking about what it takes to build launch systems that go the distance.
Having him as an observer on our board as we attempt Mission 02 means we have, at the table, someone who has personally navigated the complexity of booster design, stage recovery, and on-orbit operations at the highest level. For us, this is not a ceremonial appointment — it is a serious working relationship at a serious moment.”
Agnikul Highlights Engineering Challenges
Moin SPM, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Agnikul Cosmos, said the company has spent the past year strengthening every subsystem required for Mission 02.
“What Mission 02 demands from us is a step-change in engineering discipline. Booster recovery requires precision at every layer, propulsion, guidance, structural, avionics, and the upper stage extension pushes us into territory that few teams globally have operated in.
We have spent the last year hardening every one of these subsystems. Our Agnite booster engine, validated earlier this year, produces thrust at a scale that makes recovery trajectories tractable. Dr. Somanath’s experience in exactly these kinds of multi-system integration challenges will be invaluable.”
Dr Somanath S on Mission 02
Sharing his views after joining the board, Dr Somanath S, Former Chairman of ISRO and Observer on the Board of Directors of Agnikul Cosmos, said:
“I have watched Agnikul from close quarters for some time, and what strikes me most is not just the ambition of what they are attempting, but the quality of the engineering thinking behind it. Mission 02 is a genuine technical frontier, for India and, in several respects, for the world. The convertible upper stage concept, combined with indigenous semi-cryogenic propulsion and a 3D-printed engine that can be produced in days, is a coherent and defensible technical strategy. I am proud to support this team as they take this next step.”
Agnikul Expands Global Partnerships
The announcement follows Agnikul Cosmos’ participation in Bharat Innovates 2026, India’s deep-tech showcase held in Nice, France, from June 14–16 during the India-France Year of Innovation.
During the programme, Agnikul CEO Srinath Ravichandran presented the Agnibaan launch vehicle to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Agnikul also signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Finland-based SAR satellite imaging company ICEYE and France-based aerospace propulsion and systems company Safran.
Facilitated through IITM Global, the partnerships are part of a broader collaboration portfolio valued at nearly $100 million in projected commercial and technological value.
According to Agnikul Cosmos, the addition of Dr Somanath S to its Board alongside its recent international collaborations reflects the company’s strategy of strengthening institutional credibility in India while expanding engagement with Europe’s aerospace ecosystem as India’s private space sector continues to grow.
