India’s private space industry achieved its biggest milestone yet on Saturday after Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully placed Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, into Low Earth Orbit during its maiden mission from Sriharikota.
The successful completion of Mission Aagaman gives India private orbital launch capability for the first time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Skyroot Aerospace after the rocket completed its final burn and deployed payloads into a 450-km orbit.
Vikram-1 completes maiden orbital mission
The four-stage rocket lifted off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Andhra Pradesh before completing its planned orbital sequence.
Skyroot Aerospace confirmed the launch milestones through updates on X.
“LIFT-OFF! Vikram-1 has left the pad at Sriharikota. India’s first privately developed orbital rocket is flying. History is being made.”
The company later posted:
“Safe tower clearance. At T+10 seconds, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has cleared the launch tower.”
The mission eventually completed its final burn and injected its payloads into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit.
Landmark moment for India’s private space sector
Named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, Vikram-1 has been designed to provide rapid, on-demand launch services for small satellites.
The launch marks Skyroot Aerospace’s second space mission after the Vikram-S suborbital flight in November 2022, which became the first privately built rocket to reach space from Indian soil.
Mission Aagaman also demonstrates India’s expanding role in commercial launch services as private companies begin developing orbital launch capabilities.
Commercial and symbolic payloads aboard Vikram-1
The maiden mission carried multiple payloads bound for Low Earth Orbit.
Among them was a handwritten postcard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words “Vande Mataram”. The rocket also carried handwritten messages from Skyroot employees, investors, policymakers and well-wishers.
ANI reported that the payloads also included Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds’ lab-grown diamond, “Diamond Lotus”, as part of the mission’s commercial cargo.
PM Modi congratulates Skyroot team
Congratulating the company after the successful mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement as another milestone in India’s space journey.
Before the launch, the Prime Minister had described Vikram-1 as “a historic new frontier for India’s space journey” and said the mission reflected “the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit” of India’s youth while showcasing the impact of India’s space-sector reforms.