Sriharikota: India entered a new chapter in its space journey on Saturday as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission marks the first successful orbital launch by an Indian private company from Indian soil, underscoring the rapid growth of the country’s commercial space sector following the Centre’s decision to open the industry to private participation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Skyroot Aerospace team, describing the mission as a landmark achievement for India’s expanding space ecosystem and a reflection of the country’s growing scientific capability and innovation.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, who witnessed the launch, said the success of Vikram-1 highlighted the impact of the 2020 space sector reforms and strengthened India’s position in the global commercial launch market. He also congratulated ISRO, IN-SPACe and the Department of Space for enabling greater public-private collaboration.
Standing about 22 metres tall, Vikram-1 is capable of placing payloads of up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit. The launch vehicle incorporates several indigenous technologies, including an all-carbon composite structure, a 3D-printed liquid engine, advanced avionics and flight-control systems.
The maiden mission carried experimental payloads to validate critical technologies along with customer payloads from Indian and international partners, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in commercial space launches.
According to the government, India now has more than 400 space start-ups, with the domestic space economy estimated at around $9 billion. The Centre aims to expand the sector to nearly $44 billion over the next decade, with missions such as Vikram-1 expected to play a key role in achieving that target.
