Skyroot’s Vikram-1 Set for Historic Launch, Marking India’s First Private Orbital Rocket Mission
HYDERABAD: India’s first privately built orbital rocket, Vikram-1, developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, is set to launch between July 12 and August 4. The mission marks a major milestone for India’s private space industry.
The company will launch Mission Aagaman from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR in Sriharikota. The launch depends on the completion of final assembly, testing, weather conditions, safety checks and range clearance.
Rocket ready for maiden orbital mission
Skyroot has already integrated and stacked all stages of Vikram-1 at the launch pad. The mission will gather real-time flight data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control systems and the rocket’s overall performance.
“The single most important objective of Mission Aagaman is to capture the real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. This data cannot be fully recreated through ground testing. It will help us confirm our designs and improve future versions as we build a reliable, high-frequency commercial launch programme,” said Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder and chief executive officer of Skyroot Aerospace.
Advanced design with 3D-printed engines
Vikram-1 is a seven-storey, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure. Skyroot developed its propulsion systems in-house. The rocket also uses 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters.
It can carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into low-Earth orbit. During its first mission, Vikram-1 will target a 450-km orbit with a 60-degree inclination.
Mission Aagaman carries customer payloads
Skyroot earlier launched Vikram-S on November 18, 2022, becoming the first private Indian company to launch a rocket into space from Indian soil.
Mission Aagaman will carry a mix of domestic and international customer payloads. The company plans to begin regular commercial launches after one or two successful orbital demonstration missions.
“With Vikram-S in 2022, we validated the foundation of our technology. With Vikram-1, we take our biggest step yet towards a reliable, high-frequency launch programme built in India, for India and the world,” said Naga Bharath Daka, co-founder and chief operating officer of Skyroot Aerospace.
