Chennai: India’s first reusable hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1, was launched from Thiruvidandhai in Chennai on August 24 at 7 am.
The rocket, a collaborative effort by Tamil Nadu’s Space Zone India and Martin Group, has successfully launched three Cube Satellites and fifty PICO Satellites into a suborbital trajectory using a mobile launcher.
Space Zone India, the Tamil Nadu-based startup, states that RHUMI-1 serves as a demonstrator and represents a significant advancement in Indian space technology.
The company’s website earlier described this innovative rocket, which is designed to carry three cube satellites, as featuring a reusable mechanism that offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to satellite launches.
Furthermore, the hybrid propulsion system, which merges solid fuel with liquid oxidizer technology, aims to reduce the costs of hybrid rocket operations while maximizing safety.
The RHUMI series, comprising RHUMI-1, RHUMI-2, and RHUMI-3, can reach altitudes from 1 km to 500 km, as reported by Moneycontrol.
Launched by Space Zone India and the Martin Group, the rocket is noted for its flexibility and reusability, with a key feature being its adjustable launch angle that ranges from 0 to 120 degrees for precise trajectory control.
Additionally, the rocket is equipped with a CO2-activated parachute system, an environmentally friendly and economical solution that ensures the safe retrieval of rocket parts post-launch.
RHUMI 1’s potential uses go beyond space exploration, with applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.
