Skyroot Aerospace Launches India’s First Privately Developed Orbital Rocket Vikram-1
The successful mission marks a major milestone for India's private space sector and commercial satellite launch ambitions.
India entered a new phase in space exploration on Saturday as Hyderabad based Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital class launch vehicle.
The rocket lifted off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12:05 pm IST after a short delay in the countdown. The historic launch, named Mission Aagaman, was witnessed by scientists, engineers and space enthusiasts who celebrated the achievement.
With this mission, Skyroot Aerospace became the first Indian private company to launch an orbital class rocket, nearly five decades after ISRO’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV-3, was launched from the same spaceport.
Developed by former ISRO scientists, Vikram-1 has been designed to serve the growing global demand for small satellite launches. The first mission focused on testing key systems, including propulsion, avionics, navigation, guidance, telemetry, stage separation and orbital insertion technologies.
Named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of India’s space programme, Vikram-1 is a 22 metre tall, four stage rocket. It uses three solid fuel stages and a restartable liquid fuel upper stage, allowing it to deliver small satellites into Low Earth Orbit through dedicated and cost effective launch services.
The rocket carried several technology demonstration payloads from Indian and international customers, including Cosmoserve Space, Grahaa Space, Germany based DCUBED and Skyroot’s own technology demonstrator. The mission aims to validate technologies that will support future commercial launches.
The launch comes after Skyroot’s successful Vikram-S suborbital mission in November 2022, when the company became the first Indian private firm to send a rocket into space. Vikram-1 now marks its entry into orbital launch operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier described the mission as a significant new milestone for India’s space sector and congratulated the Skyroot team. The successful launch highlights the growing role of private companies after India opened its space sector to private participation.
Mission Aagaman is expected to strengthen Skyroot Aerospace’s plans for regular commercial launches and support India’s goal of becoming a major global centre for satellite launch services and space technology innovation.