Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre during Mission Aagman.
Sriharikota: India scripted a new chapter in its space journey on Friday as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket, completing all mission objectives under Mission Aagman. The rocket successfully placed six payloads into Low Earth Orbit, making Vikram-1 India’s first privately developed orbital rocket to successfully reach orbit. With the mission, India became the third country after the United States and China to achieve orbital launch capability through a privately developed rocket. The achievement is being hailed as a landmark moment for India’s rapidly growing commercial space industry.
Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Vikram-1 lifted off after a brief 35-minute delay caused by an automated hold during the final countdown. Engineers identified and resolved the issue before the launch resumed. Around 15 minutes after liftoff, the rocket successfully inserted its payloads into a 450-kilometre Low Earth Orbit. Skyroot later confirmed that Mission Aagman had achieved all planned mission objectives.
Six Payloads Successfully Placed into Orbit
The 22-metre-tall launch vehicle carried six payloads, including two satellites and four technology demonstration payloads from Indian and international customers. The payloads were successfully deployed into orbit, demonstrating Vikram-1’s capability to deliver small satellites into space and serve the growing global commercial launch market.
Mission Aagman also showcased several indigenous technologies developed by Skyroot Aerospace. Vikram-1 is a four-stage launch vehicle powered by three solid-fuel stages and a restartable liquid-fuel upper stage. The rocket also features Skyroot’s indigenously developed 3D-printed engines, highlighting the company’s technological capabilities.
Milestone for India’s Private Space Industry
The success of Vikram-1 marks a significant milestone for India’s private space sector, which has expanded rapidly since the Centre opened the space industry to private participation in 2020 through reforms led by IN-SPACe. Founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot Aerospace has emerged as one of the country’s leading space startups.
The mission follows Skyroot’s successful Vikram-S suborbital demonstration in 2022 and marks the company’s transition into orbital launch capability. Vikram-1 is also the first of three planned developmental launches before Skyroot begins routine commercial launch services.
Boost for India’s Global Space Ambitions
The successful mission is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global commercial space launch market, where demand for dedicated launches of small satellites continues to rise. Industry experts believe the achievement will attract greater investment into India’s private space ecosystem while encouraging more startups to develop advanced launch technologies.
The government aims to expand India’s space economy from about $8 billion today to $44 billion by 2033, with private companies expected to play a central role in achieving that target.
PM Modi Congratulates Skyroot Team
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Skyroot Aerospace team after watching the launch live, calling the mission a proud moment for India and saying it reflected the innovation and talent of the country’s youth. He described Mission Aagman as an important milestone in India’s journey towards becoming a global space power.
A New Era Begins
Mission Aagman is more than just a successful rocket launch. It marks the beginning of a new era in India’s space programme, where private companies are expected to play a much larger role alongside ISRO.
The success of Mission Aagman is expected to accelerate private participation in India’s space programme and strengthen the country’s position in the global commercial launch market as demand for small satellite launches continues to grow.
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