Key facts
- Skyroot Aerospace launched India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, on July 18.
- The Vikram-1 rocket has a payload capacity of 350kg and targets a 450km orbit.
- A successful launch makes Skyroot the first Indian private company capable of orbital launches.
- The mission carried scientific instruments and symbolic payloads, including a diamond lotus.
Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace launched the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, on July 18. The mission, named 'Aagman,' aims to provide a 'cab service to space' for small satellite operators, addressing a bottleneck in dedicated launch services. The seven-storey Vikram-1 rocket, named after the father of India's space program, has a capacity of 350kg and targeted a low Earth orbit 450km away. A successful 16-minute flight marks a significant milestone, making Skyroot the first Indian private entity capable of orbital launches and positioning India to compete in the global commercial launch market. The mission carried scientific instruments, including a space debris removal robotic arm and an Earth observation camera, alongside symbolic payloads like a diamond lotus and micro-sculptures of prominent Indian scientists. Skyroot, founded in 2018 by former Isro colleagues, plans two test flights this year before commencing commercial operations next year, with a factory capacity to build one rocket per month.