Ex-ISRO Chairman Somanath Backs Agnikul's Next-Gen Space Mission

Former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath has joined Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos as an observer on its Board of Directors , bringing decades of launch vehicle expertise to one of India's most ambitious private space missions. His appointment comes as the startup gears up for Mission 02 , a crucial test that aims to showcase reusable rocket technologies and strengthen India's position in the global commercial space industry.

Somanath, who completed his tenure as ISRO Chairman in January 2025 , led some of India's biggest space milestones, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing near the Moon's south pole, the launch of Aditya-L1 , India's first solar observatory, and key advances in the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Before heading ISRO, he played a pivotal role in developing the PSLV , GSLV Mk III (LVM3) and India's cryogenic propulsion systems, making him one of the country's foremost launch vehicle engineers.

His move to Agnikul is seen as a significant milestone in the evolution of India's private space sector, reflecting the growing collaboration between ISRO veterans and emerging startups following the space sector reforms of 2020.

At the heart of Somanath's new role is Mission 02 , which will launch a two-stage Agnibaan rocket. The mission will attempt India's first private-sector recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster through a controlled ocean landing after stage separation. At the same time, the rocket's upper stage will remain operational in orbit, converting into a functional platform instead of becoming space debris. The mission will also demonstrate indigenous semi-cryogenic propulsion and Agnikul's single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine , which can reportedly be manufactured within days.

" Mission 02 is a genuine technical frontier for India and, in several respects, for the world," Somanath said, describing the reusable upper-stage concept and indigenous propulsion technologies as a strong technical strategy.

Founded at IIT Madras in 2017, Agnikul has emerged as one of India's leading spacetech startups. It developed the country's first private launch pad at Sriharikota, carried out the world's first launch powered by a single-piece 3D-printed engine, and has attracted significant investor interest, including an equity investment from the Tamil Nadu government . The company has also crossed a valuation of over $500 million .

Welcoming Somanath, Co-founder and CEO Srinath Ravichandran said his appointment was "not a ceremonial role" but a serious working partnership. With more than 200 space startups now operating in India, industry experts believe Somanath's association with Agnikul will accelerate innovation in reusable launch technology , lower launch costs, and reinforce India's ambitions of becoming a globally competitive commercial space power.