Skyroot's energy reflects vibrant spirit of India's space ecosystem: PM Modi
New Delhi, July 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, the co-founders of Skyroot Aerospace.
The successful flight of Vikram-1, Skyroot's private launch vehicle, dominated the exchange.
What began as a congratulatory meeting evolved into an energetic discussion about technology roadmaps, long-term visions, and wider opportunities opening up for private players in India's space sector.
PM Modi later wrote in a post on X, describing the interaction as "a great interaction" and noting that "the success of Vikram-1 naturally featured prominently in our discussion, in addition to many other interesting subjects."
He praised the founders' "energy, ambition and positivity," saying they "reflect the vibrant spirit of our private space ecosystem."
He concluded with encouragement: "Best wishes to the entire Skyroot team."
For Chandana and Daka, the meeting was more than a photo opportunity. In their statement, the founders said they felt honoured to share the company's journey, the hard-won success of Vikram-1, and their longer-term vision for India's place in the global space industry.
They noted that the Prime Minister took a keen interest in the technology they have built, their plans, and the expanding window of opportunity for private enterprise.
Skyroot added that PM Modi's confidence in young entrepreneurs and in the country's innovation ecosystem continues to serve as a powerful source of inspiration.
The company also thanked the government for policy reforms that opened the space sector to private participation, credited IN-SPACe for enabling private spaceflight, and acknowledged ISRO's role in providing facilities, technical expertise, and collaborative support.
Skyroot Aerospace, started in 2018 by ex-ISRO scientists Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in Hyderabad, designs on-demand rockets for small-satellite launches into Earth orbit. It became India's first private firm to fire a rocket from Indian soil with the Vikram-S suborbital flight (Mission Prarambh) from Sriharikota.
Later, its Vikram-1 rocket (Mission Aagaman) lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, inserting multiple payloads into Low Earth Orbit and making India only the third nation with private orbital-launch capability.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see private players getting their due recognition. But I hope the government also focuses on making these launches cost-effective for smaller Indian companies and research institutions. Skyroot should offer special rates for domestic payloads, not just international clients. The potential is huge, but we need to ensure it benefits Indian science too.
As an engineer visiting from the US, I'm genuinely impressed by India's space startup scene. The fact Skyroot went from zero to orbital launch in just a few years shows the talent pool here. PM Modi meeting them sends a strong signal to global investors. Looking forward to seeing Indian rockets compete with SpaceX and Rocket Lab!
Skyroot's journey from a small Hyderabad startup to orbital capability is inspiring. But let's not forget ISRO's role here! They literally provided the foundation and technical support. This is a great example of public-private partnership working well. Now we need more startups in satellite manufacturing, space-based services, and maybe even space tourism in 10-15 years. The sky is not the limit anymore.
PM's personal touch with these founders shows he understands the power of innovation. But infrastructure still needs improvement - Skyroot struggled with regulatory delays initially. Now IN-SPACe is helping, but we need faster approvals for more private launches. India can become a global space hub if policies keep evolving. Also, please make space accessible for college projects and research teams, not just big companies.
This is fantastic! India's private space sector is truly coming of age. Skyroot's success alongside ISRO's legacy puts India
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