New Delhi: OmSpace Rocket and Exploration Pvt LTD launched a 4.2 metre single-stage, suborbital sounding rocket at 13:00 hours IST on 15 March, from a makeshift
launch pad at the Bavaliyari village near Dholera. This is the first time that a private entity has flown a sounding rocket developed in Gujarat, from Gujarat. The team worked towards the launch over a period of seven months, with the rocket reaching the target altitude of three kilometres in a matter of seconds. OmSpace also recovered the rocket using a pair of parachutes, that touched down safely about four km from the launch site, exactly along the predicted path.
The flight was witnessed by the Minister of Science and Technology for Gujarat, Arjun Modhiwadia, who went on to announce that Gujarat had selected a site for building a launch pad between Diu and Kodinar. The flight demonstrated and validated a number technologies developed by OmSpace, including a sugar-based solid propellant motor, a custom 3D-printed torch igniter, and autonomous systems including precision avionics, control system and the recovery mechanism using a pair of parachutes. The airframe of the sounding rocket was build using carbon fibre and advanced composite materials developed at the company’s lab in Ahmedabad.
OmSpace is developing a reusable launcher
The launch was conducted with the highest safety standards, with technical coordination from IN-SPACe, the Indian Coast Guard, The Airports Authority of India, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd. The team camped at the launch site for three days to coordinate with the government agencies, monitor local conditions, and run final checks. Founder and CEO of OmSpace, Ravindra Raj said, “The data gathered from today’s flight will be integral to scaling up operations and moving towards commercial missions.” OmSpace is developing the Infinity One, a reusable orbital launcher for small satellites. The company plans to conduct another sounding rocket test flight later in the year.
