On August 24, 2024, India achieved a remarkable milestone in space technology as Space Zone India triumphantly launched the nation’s inaugural reusable hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1, employing a mobile launch pad. This launch took place in the coastal village of Thiruvidandhai, Tamil Nadu, under the Mission RHUMI-2024 program. This pioneering launch of RHUMI-1 marked a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities.
The rocket launched had three CUBE satellites to check and gather data regarding atmospheric factors, cosmic radiation and UV radiatios. It also had 50 Pico satellites to check the altitude, accelerometer readings and ozone level.
The rocket, measures 3.5 metres in height, was launched at approximately 7:25 am, a bit later than the actually planned 7 am lift off time, according to Anand Megalingam, the Founder and CEO of Space Zone India.
Rhumi 1’s hybrid design, is a combination of solid propellant and liquid oxidizer, which reduces the risk of accidental detonation by combining these components only during combustion.
Man behind ‘RHUMI 1’.
The man behind the success of mission RHUMI 2024 is Anand Megalingam, founder of Space Zone India, a Tamil Nadu based startup, with guidance from Mylswamy Annadurai, former Director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) and project director of India’s Moon Mission “Chandrayaan”.
Space Zone India, currently located in Chennai, is a company that works on space technology. They provide affordable and lasting solutions for space-related projects. The Martin Group of Companies, a big group with different businesses, helps Space Zone India’s Mission RHUMI 2024 as part of their CSR (Corporate social responsibility).
“India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in space innovation, consistently launching groundbreaking missions that push the boundaries of what is possible. As our nation advances in this crucial sector, the need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions becomes more pressing. Mission RHUMI 2024 is a direct response to this need,” Megalingam was quoted as saying by PTI
“By introducing a reusable hybrid rocket, we are not only reducing the financial burden of space exploration but minimizing its environmental impact. This mission reflects our commitment to making space missions more accessible and sustainable for the future,” he said.
Success of ‘RHUMI 1’.
On the day of the launch, more than 8,000 students, teachers, experts, government officials, and business partners came together to see this historic event. As the countdown started, everyone could feel the excitement in the air. When Megalingam pushed the button to start the rocket, it took four seconds to launch, but for him, it felt like an eternity.
Creating RHUMI-1 had many challenges. Anand and his team started working on it in January 2023 with lots of pressure to finish on time and with a small budget. The first tries didn’t work, but they didn’t give up. They looked closely at the issues and made better designs.
Besides tech problems, the team faced rules they had to follow. It took months to get approval from DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) in Delhi, Air Force, and Airport Authority of India. They finally got the green light just a week before the planned launch.
“I was in charge of the entire process—and I couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong. When I pressed the ignition button, there was a 4-second delay in the launch. These 4 seconds were probably the longest 4 seconds of my life. I remember that the entire year, my team, the government, and everyone’s hopes flashed before my eyes.” Anand said.
“But of course, we had triple-checked everything till the last minute—so RHUMI launched smoothly. And we created history,” he added.
Today the value of Space Zone India is worth 800 Crore and is backed by Indian government and ISRO (Indian space research organisation).
The rocket launched successfully, reaching suborbital space and putting its cargo in place without any trouble. The info gathered by the satellites will be studied to help scientists learn more about how the atmosphere works and aid in global climate studies.
RHUMI-1’s victory is not just about tech progress—it’s a tale of motivation for young Indians. Megalingam aims to get students interested in space discovery and environmental studies through Space Zone India.
