New Delhi: India on Saturday successfully test-fired its first reusable hybrid rocket 'RHUMI-1'. The test was successfully launched from Chennai by Tamil Nadu-based start-up Space Zone India in collaboration with Martin Group. The rocket was launched with the help of a mobile launcher. It traveled on a suborbital trajectory carrying a payload of 50 PICO satellites and three cube satellites.
Rumi-1 is a special type of rocket that flies with the help of two types of solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer. Due to this special design, the risk of fire in the rocket is greatly reduced. An electronic signal is used to open the parachute fitted to it. Space Zone India aims to build a two-stage rocket that can carry a 500 kg payload. Apart from this, the company is also exploring the possibility of future launches from the UAE desert.
These satellites will collect data and information for research purposes on global temperature and climate change. In addition to its space exploration purposes, RHUMI 1's use extends to agriculture, environmental monitoring and disaster management. According to Anand Megalingam, founder and CEO of Space Zone India, the 3.5 meter high rocket was launched at around 7:25 pm. This was slightly later than the originally planned launch time of 7pm. Megalingam said this is a sounding rocket. It flew at an altitude of about 35 km. He said that our team is to collect it as per our plan as it is a reusable rocket.
He gave more detailed information about the launch. Megalingam said that compared to the 89 degree inclination, we launched the rocket with an inclination of 70 degrees due to strong winds and gusts. Former Director of ISRO Satellite Center (ISAC) Dr. Myleswamy Annadurai led the mission. Annadurai also gives the necessary instructions to Ananda Megalingam, the creator of Space Zone.
The RHUMI rocket is completely free of fire. TNT is not used in this. It has a hybrid motor that runs on conventional fuel and an electronically activated parachute deployer. The RHUMI-1 rocket used a mixture of liquid and solid fuel propellants to increase efficiency and reduce operation costs. The first launch was planned for February 2023. A parachute deployment problem was encountered at the time, resulting in the rocket falling into the ocean and recovery impossible. To prevent a similar incident, the team included several timers for this launch.
