Skyroot launches India's 1st private orbital rocket Vikram-1
New Delhi, July 18
India scripted a historic chapter in its space journey on Saturday as Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, under Mission Aagaman, making India only the third nation after the United States and China to have a private company capable of launching a rocket into orbit.
The landmark mission lifted off from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking a major milestone for India's rapidly expanding private space sector.
"LIFT-OFF! Vikram-1 has left the pad at Sriharikota. India's first privately developed orbital rocket is flying. History is being made," Skyroot Aerospace said in a post on social media platform X.
"Safe tower clearance. At T+10 seconds, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has cleared the launch tower," it added.
Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space programme, the four-stage Vikram-1 launch vehicle is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services for small satellites.
The mission is also expected to strengthen India's position in the global commercial launch market.
The seven-storey rocket is headed for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 450 km. With the successful launch, India joined an exclusive group of nations where private companies have demonstrated orbital launch capability.
Skyroot Aerospace has described its long-term vision as offering a "cab service to space", enabling customers to book dedicated launches to place satellites into specific orbits or support future space missions with greater flexibility and speed.
Mission Aagaman marks Skyroot's second space mission after the successful launch of the Vikram-S suborbital rocket under Operation Prarambh in November 2022, which became the first privately built rocket to reach space from Indian soil and paved the way for India's private launch ecosystem.
Ahead of the mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had termed the launch "a historic new frontier for India's space journey" and extended his best wishes to the Skyroot Aerospace team.
In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said the mission reflected the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of India's youth while showcasing how the country's space sector reforms are unlocking new opportunities for innovation and enterprise.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great achievement indeed! But I wish there was more coverage of the team behind this. These young engineers from Hyderabad worked day and night for this. Also, we need to ensure such successes translate into more jobs for our STEM graduates. Still, kudos to Skyroot! 👏
Impressive work from Skyroot! As an aerospace enthusiast, seeing India join the US and China in having private orbital launch capability is genuinely exciting. Vikram-1's design with its four-stage system and quick-turnaround promise could be a game-changer for small satellite deployment. Democracy and innovation in action.
Operation Aagaman - what a fitting name! After Dr. Sarabhai's vision, we now have private players taking space to new heights. But let's not forget ISRO's role here - they provided the launch pad and expertise. Public-private partnership at its best. Now let's aim for even more - space stations, moon missions, the works! 🚀🌕
Being an expat in India, I've witnessed the energy in the startup scene here. Skyroot's success is no fluke - they've been working tirelessly since their first suborbital launch in 2022. The 'cab service to space' vision is brilliant and could disrupt the global small satellite launch market. Well done, India! 🇮🇳
While I'm thrilled about this achievement (and it is massive), I wish the government would also focus on ground-level issues like education and healthcare. Space tech is great for national pride, but we need balanced development. That said, cheers to the Skyroot team! You've made
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