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India's private sector launches first orbital rocket Vikram-1
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates /Technology

India's private sector launches first orbital rocket Vikram-1

From Gulf Today · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • India successfully launched its first privately developed orbital rocket, the Vikram-1, from Sriharikota.
  • The launch marks a significant step for India's growing private space sector, aiming to capture a larger share of the global space economy.
  • The rocket, capable of carrying small satellites, also carries experimental payloads like a lab-grown diamond and robotic arms for space debris removal.

India's private space sector achieved a milestone Saturday with the successful maiden flight of the Vikram-1 orbital rocket, developed by Skyroot Aerospace. The launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota signifies a major advancement for India's ambitions in the global space economy.

Hello space, we have arrived!

— Skyroot AerospaceAnnouncing the successful completion of the Vikram-1 rocket's test flight.

"Hello space, we have arrived!" Skyroot Aerospace announced on X, confirming the successful completion of the test flight. The Vikram-1 rocket stands as tall as a seven-story building and can carry payloads up to 350 kilograms. Pawan Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, lauded the achievement, stating it surpassed expectations for a first-time orbital launch by an Indian private company.

Vikram-1's Test Flight-1 has completed its mission. The first ever Indian private sector launch has been successfully completed.

— Skyroot AerospaceConfirming the success of the maiden flight on social media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the endeavor as a "defining moment in India's space journey," highlighting the increasing role of the private sector in driving innovation. The rocket's mission includes carrying diverse payloads, such as a lab-grown diamond, robotic arms designed for space debris removal, and a miniature gold rocket featuring sculptures of prominent Indian scientists. This launch is expected to inspire young people to pursue ambitious goals in science and technology.

way beyond expectation for the very first orbital launch ever taken by an Indian private company

— Pawan GoenkaChairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, commenting on the launch's success.

India's space program, bolstered by decades of investment from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has accelerated significantly since the sector opened to private players in 2020. The country's space economy, valued at approximately $8.4 billion, now hosts over 400 space startups. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar remarked, "India's space ambitions soar to new heights!" The success follows India's achievement in August 2023, becoming the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon. Former ISRO chairman K. Sivan emphasized the global impact of this launch, stating that an Indian startup achieving such a complex technological feat significantly boosts India's international reputation.

The growing participation of our private sector is opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation

— Narendra ModiPrime Minister of India, hailing the achievement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Gulf Today in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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