Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace achieved a historic milestone on Saturday by successfully launching the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket. This landmark event represents a significant step in India’s ambition to expand its presence in the global commercial space launch market.
The inaugural orbital flight, named “Mission Aagaman,” lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 0635 GMT, following a brief delay from the originally scheduled 0600 GMT launch time. Approximately 15 minutes after liftoff, the rocket deployed multiple customer payloads and in-orbit experiments into a 450-kilometre orbit, demonstrating the vehicle’s operational capabilities.
With this mission, India became the third nation worldwide to achieve orbital launch capability through a private company, underscoring the growing role of private enterprises in the country’s space ambitions.
The Vikram-1 rocket measures about 22 metres (72 feet) in height and is engineered to carry payloads weighing up to 350 kilograms into low-Earth orbit. It features a multi-stage propulsion system composed of three solid-fuel stages and a liquid-fuel orbital adjustment module. Notably, the orbital adjustment module is powered by a 3D-printed engine, marking the first deployment of this technology in India.
The flight carried a variety of technological demonstration satellites and experimental payloads from both Indian and international organizations. The primary goal was to validate the rocket’s core systems under actual flight conditions, including propulsion, avionics, telemetry, guidance, navigation, and control systems. Skyroot confirmed that the data collected during the mission will be instrumental in preparing for future commercial launches.
In a significant development for India’s space economy, Skyroot declared “Mission Aagaman” a grand success and announced plans for additional test flights before commencing regular commercial operations. Founded in 2018 and based in Hyderabad, the company has attracted considerable global investment since the liberalization of India’s space sector.
Earlier this year, Skyroot became the first Indian space startup to reach a valuation of $1 billion. This achievement follows the company’s 2022 Vikram-S mission, which marked the first privately developed suborbital flight to reach space from Indian soil.
The Indian government officially opened the space sector to private investment in 2020, ending decades of exclusive control by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). New Delhi aims to increase its share of the global space economy from $8 billion currently to $44 billion by 2033, positioning private domestic firms like Skyroot to compete with established players in the United States, Europe, and China.
