People at the launch site said on Saturday that Indian aerospace firm Agnikul Cosmos has again postponed the first launch of its Agnibaan rocket, citing technical difficulties.

According to the persons, the business delayed liftoff in order to perform pre-launch inspections. The rocket manufacturer gave no explicit explanation for why the Agnibaan launch was postponed last month.

Following the 2022 launch of the Vikram-S rocket by startup Skyroot, Agnikul hopes to carry out India’s second private rocket launch in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for the privatization and commercialization of the space sector.

According to the business, the Agnibaan is a two-stage launch vehicle that can be customized and can send a payload as heavy as 300 kg (660 pounds) into an orbit that is roughly 700 km (440 miles) in diameter.

The mission would be a significant technological advancement for India even though it would only take two minutes from launch to splashdown. This is because the Indian Space Research Organization has never successfully flown a semi-cryogenic engine, which combines liquid and gas fuel.

Globally, businesses ranging from startups to Big Tech are aiming to launch their 500 kilogram tiny satellites to enhance their technology or for applications like accurate climate monitoring and internet access for isolated regions.