A private rocket launch start‑up, Skyroot Aerospace, has successfully launched its first rocket, Vikram‑1, into space, marking a new era in India’s journey into space exploration.
The seven‑storey orbital rocket, designed to carry 350 kg of satellite payloads, is named in honour of the Father of the Indian space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai.
The rocket has since reached orbit in the mission dubbed “Mission Aagaman”, which means “arrival”, making India the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability.
It took off on Saturday at 11:30 am from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
According to its founders, the rocket is like a ‘cab to space’ that satellite companies and institutions can use to send their payloads to specific, unique orbits.
The design, featuring 3-D printed engines and a carbon-fibre composite outer structure, is meant for rapid production and manufacturing, an earlier press release from the company explained.
On today’s test flight, the rocket travelled to space carrying handwritten messages from the company’s team, investors, policymakers, and well‑wishers worldwide, including a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the words “Vande Mataram”, meaning “Salutations to the Motherland”.
India sees the launch as a milestone in the country’s private space sector, with Skyroot becoming the first company after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch rockets.
Speaking after the launch, PM Modi described it as a defining moment in India’s space journey that will encourage countless youngsters to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly.
He also hailed the growing participation of the private sector in opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation.
“This four-stage rocket is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services. This mission highlights the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of our youth. It also shows how our space-sector reforms are unlocking new opportunities for innovation and enterprise,” he added.
Today’s launch was the second from Sriharikota this year, following the PSLV C62 mission in January, which failed due to a stage‑III anomaly.
Skyroot is also building rockets designed to carry more payloads to space.
“With Vikram-1, we take our biggest step yet toward a reliable, high-cadence launch programme built in India, for India and the world. This mission is designed as both a technology demonstration and a learning mission,” said Naga Bharath Daka, COO and co-founder of Skyroot Aerospace, in an earlier press release.
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