India's Skyroot launches Vikram-1 in first private orbital rocket mission

Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace has launched the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, the Vikram-1, in a significant test of national efforts to capture a larger share of the global commercial launch market. The rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 6:35 am GMT, carrying customer payloads and in-orbit experiments on its maiden orbital mission, codenamed "Mission Aagaman."

The launch, initially scheduled for 6 am GMT, experienced a temporary hold before being rescheduled. This mission is designed to validate the rocket's propulsion, avionics, telemetry, guidance, navigation, and control systems during flight, while gathering crucial data for future commercial launches. "Mission Aagaman is a grand success," the company stated. "This is a test flight. We will be doing a few of these before we move into routine commercial flights."

Founded in 2018, Skyroot is part of a new wave of Indian space startups that have attracted substantial backing from global investors following the sector's liberalization. The company achieved a $1 billion valuation earlier this year, becoming the first space-sector firm in India to reach this milestone. The launch occurs amidst intensifying competition in the global small satellite launch market, where startups are challenging established players like SpaceX.

Standing approximately 22 meters tall, Vikram-1 is engineered to carry payloads of up to 350 kg into low-Earth orbit. It utilizes three solid-fuel stages and a liquid-fuel orbital adjustment module powered by a 3D-printed engine, technologies making their debut in India. The rocket is carrying various experimental and customer payloads from Indian and international organizations. This successful mission signifies the private sector's entry into orbital launch capabilities in India, following the company's Vikram-S suborbital flight in 2022.

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Mission Aagaman is a grand success. This is a test flight. We will be doing a few of these before we move into routine commercial flights.