Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): India’s private space industry crossed a significant milestone on Saturday as Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully placed its Vikram-1 launch vehicle into orbit, making it the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket to complete an orbital mission.
The mission, named ‘Aagaman’, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota after a brief planned hold during the countdown. Originally scheduled for 11:30 am, the liftoff took place at 12:05:30 pm, and mission controllers confirmed its success at around 12:21 pm after the payload was accurately injected into its designated orbit.
The successful flight positions Skyroot Aerospace among a select group of private companies worldwide that have independently developed and launched orbital rockets, marking a major step forward for India’s expanding commercial space ecosystem.
Named after the father of India’s space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage launch vehicle built using an all-carbon composite structure. The rocket is powered by propulsion systems developed in-house, including high-thrust solid-fuel boosters and advanced 3D-printed engines.
Designed to deploy small satellites weighing up to 350 kilograms into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the maiden mission targeted an orbital altitude of approximately 450 kilometres at a 60-degree inclination.
The rocket carried multiple technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE platform. It also transported “Cosmic Bloom,” an artwork created by Cosmos Diamonds, along with a micro-art installation featuring miniature sculptures of Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman, Indian space pioneer Dr Vikram Sarabhai, and former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Ahead of the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the mission as “a historic new frontier” in India’s space journey. Extending his best wishes to the Skyroot Aerospace team, he said the mission reflected the country’s growing innovation ecosystem, the entrepreneurial spirit of its youth, and the opportunities created by reforms in the Indian space sector. He also encouraged citizens, particularly young people, to follow the mission using the hashtag #IndiaWithVikram1.
As part of the mission, Vikram-1 carried a commemorative postcard bearing the Prime Minister’s handwritten message, “Vande Mataram,” along with hundreds of messages submitted by people from around the world. The rocket also carried the signatures of Skyroot’s engineers, technicians and team members in recognition of their contribution to India’s first private orbital launch.
Skyroot Aerospace had earlier demonstrated its capabilities with the successful Vikram-S suborbital mission in November 2022. The success of Vikram-1 marks a defining moment for India’s private space sector, strengthening the country’s position in the global commercial launch market and opening new opportunities for indigenous space technology and private participation.
