# Project AGNI

> A KNSB solid rocket motor that thrustMIT designed, cast and fired itself, aimed at a 10,000 ft rocket. The first M-class test failed 1.63 s in. The rebuilt motor held for the whole burn and delivered 9,202 N·s.

- Role: Propulsion Lead
- Year: 2024
- Page: https://madhavsonkusare.com/work/agni/

## Achievements

- 9,202 N·s total impulse
- 2,163 N average thrust
- 129 s specific impulse
- 7.25 kg KNSB

## Inside AGNI

### Forward closure

Two O-ring seals and an independent retainer ring secure the forward closure.

- Material: Al 6061-T6
- Seals: 2 O-rings
- Retention: Retainer ring

### Propellant grains

Four KNSB grains, together they hold 7.25 kg of propellant.

- Grains: 4 × 165 mm
- Bore: Ø32 mm
- Mass: 7.25 kg

### Casing and liner

An aluminium casing with a carbon-fibre liner that serves as the casting sleeve and thermal barrier.

- Casing: Al 6061-T6 · 6 mm wall
- Liner: CFRP · 3 mm

### Nozzle

A converging-diverging nozzle with two O-rings and an independent aft retainer.

- Seals: 2 O-rings
- Retention: Aft retainer ring

## Project goal

Develop and validate an M-class motor for thrustMIT’s entry in the 10,000 ft student-researched and developed (SRAD) category.

## Design evolution

Component drawings, thermal and structural simulation in Ansys, manufacturing and test integration.

## Casting

Four grains in carbon-fibre liners, a centred core and documented casting checklists.

- Figure: Agni 1.0's three grains in carbon-fibre liners, wrapped against moisture, Nov 2023
- Figure: The four numbered grains of Agni 2.0 after casting, October 2024

## Testing

Agni 1.0 failed at 1.63 s during the November 2023 static test. The rebuilt motor completed its static burn without structural failure.

Published M-class results: 9,202 N·s total impulse, 2,163 N average thrust and 129 s specific impulse. A J-class motor was also tested.

- Figure: Agni 2.0 on the test stand during the M-class static fire, 7 October 2024
- Figure: The stainless steel bolts that sheared on Agni 1.0, 6 November 2023
- Figure: Measured thrust of the M-class motor on 7 October 2024, from the load cell

## Project Kali

After AGNI, the junior propulsion team built Kali, an N-class KNSB motor designed from everything the AGNI tests had taught us, and this time meant to fly.

Kali powered Varuna, thrustMIT’s first rocket on a student-developed motor, which flew at IREC 2026 in the 10,000 ft SRAD category.

## Gallery

- Ready for Livestream. ft. Avionic team in the tent
- Assembling the Load cell setup.
- The J-class motor. All Assembled
- The Test stand had plenty FOS.
- Full day of propellant casting was excrutiating.
- Team photo after successful motor tests!
- Motor Integration on the test-stand.
- Almost Assembled...
- Propulsion Team with the big M-class motor.
- M-class motor integrated on the test-stand
- Biig Motor. (ignore background mess in the workshop)
- from CAD to reality....
- Waiting at test-site with the motor.
- Propulsion Team 💪
- With the Junior Team..
- Kali, ready for its static fire.
- Kali on the vertical test bed.

## Films

- [Agni 2.0, M class, front camera, 7 October 2024: the motor held for the whole burn. Slowed down.](https://madhavsonkusare.com/videos/agni-2-0-static-fire.mp4)
- [Agni 1.0, 6 November 2023: ignition, then the failure 1.63 s into the burn. Slowed down.](https://madhavsonkusare.com/videos/agni-1-0-static-fire.mp4)
- [we also tested a J-class motor that day cuz why not...](https://madhavsonkusare.com/videos/agni-j-class-29-40.mp4)

## Links

- [Structural design evolution, testing and validation of AGNI](https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-8695/ae7014) (Mittal, Kripal & Srinivas G · Engineering Research Express · 2026)
- [AGNI motor test](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBGKwcqvBml/) (thrustMIT · Instagram)
- [Project Kali: N-class motor test](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVV5v-2k-bV/) (thrustMIT · Instagram)
- [Project Kali at IREC 2026](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thrustmit_projectkali-esra-irec2026-activity-7438999993081831424-waR_) (thrustMIT · LinkedIn)