Sriharikota: India’s private space industry achieved a historic milestone on Saturday as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram‑1, the country’s first privately developed orbital‑class rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The landmark Mission Aagaman signals the arrival of Indian private industry into orbital launches, placing India among a select group of nations where commercial companies independently build and launch rockets.
Standing nearly seven storeys tall, Vikram‑1 is an all‑carbon composite, multi‑stage launch vehicle capable of deploying payloads up to 350 kilograms into Low Earth Orbit. Powered by in‑house propulsion systems, including advanced 3D‑printed engines and solid rocket motors, the rocket performed nominally across all stages, with precise and clean separations.
The maiden flight carried technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE experiment, alongside symbolic items such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handwritten “Vande Mataram” postcard and messages from ISRO leaders, astronauts, and supporters worldwide.
Founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot earlier made history in 2022 with Vikram‑S, India’s first private rocket to reach space. Vikram‑1’s success now validates years of engineering and innovation, paving the way for affordable, reliable, and responsive launch services for the global small satellite market.
PM Modi hails Vikram‑1 launch as a defining milestone, praising private sector’s role in accelerating India’s space innovation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team of Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch of Vikram‑1, calling it a defining moment in India’s space journey. He emphasised that the growing participation of the private sector is opening new frontiers and driving innovation at an unprecedented pace.
“This achievement will encourage countless youngsters to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly,” the Prime Minister said, underlining how the milestone reflects India’s expanding capabilities in space exploration and the promise of a vibrant ecosystem led by both government and private players.
Spoke to the team of Skyroot Aerospace and congratulated them on the successful launch of Vikram-1.
This is a defining moment in India’s space journey. The growing participation of our private sector is opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation.
This achievement will… pic.twitter.com/epWjOY8yKa
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 18, 2026
