Vikram-1: All about India's first privately developed orbital rocket saying ‘hello’ to space

Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has achieved a historic feat with the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket. The mission, dubbed "Mission Aagaman," lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Saturday, marking a significant moment for the nation's burgeoning private space sector.

Skyroot Aerospace announced its arrival in space, stating, "Hello space, we have arrived! Vikram-1's Test Flight-1 has completed its mission. The first ever Indian private sector launch has been successfully completed." The rocket carried not only its intended payload but also a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bearing the message "Vande Mataram," alongside postcards from engineers, scientists, and Indian astronauts.

“

Hello space, we have arrived! Vikram-1's Test Flight-1 has completed it's mission. The first ever Indian private sector launch has been successfully completed.

Vikram-1 is an orbital launch vehicle engineered to place satellites into stable Earth orbit, facilitating applications in communications, navigation, Earth observation, and scientific research. Standing 24 meters tall, it is designed to carry up to 350 kg of payload to a 450-km Low Earth Orbit. Its construction features an all-carbon composite structure and it is powered by 3D-printed liquid engines, contributing to reduced manufacturing time and complexity.

The successful launch of Vikram-1 is viewed as a major milestone for India's commercial space ambitions. It represents the first significant demonstration of the government's space-sector reforms, introduced under the Indian Space Policy 2023, which opened the entire space value chain to private participation. This achievement positions India's private sector to compete in the orbital launch market.

“

a historic new frontier for India's space journey.