India's First Privately Developed Rocket Reaches Orbit on Dramatic Debut Launch
The flight deployed two CubeSats and several payloads, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Skyroot team after the test.
- On Saturday, Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace launched the Vikram-1 rocket, making India the third country to achieve private orbital launch capability and marking the nation's first privately developed vehicle to reach orbit.
- Former ISRO engineer Pawan Kumar Chandana and colleague Naga Bharath Daka founded Skyroot in Hyderabad in 2018, choosing a solid-fueled launcher design to minimize development time and launch costs.
- The maiden flight exceeded expectations, successfully deploying two CubeSats. Chandana said the rocket is "100 percent designed in India, 100 percent made in India, built by 100 percent Indian people."
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team, directing the space industry to increase annual launches from about five to 50 by decade's end as part of broader efforts to expand India's space sector.
- Statistically, private maiden launches often fail, yet Skyroot plans a second Vikram-1 mission before year's end, positioning the company to transition toward commercial operations in 2027.
20 Articles
20 Articles
On July 18, 2026, Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 became the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit from Sriharikota after a 35-minute hold — the visible result of six years of reforms that opened orbital launch to private builders alongside ISRO
Vikram-1 is circling Earth after leaving ISRO’s First Launch Pad in fire and smoke over Sriharikota on July 18, 2026. ISRO recorded the liftoff at 12:05:30 p.m. India Standard Time; Reuters reported that about 15 minutes later the privately developed rocket had reached a 450-kilometre orbit. The launch made Skyroot Aerospace the first private Indian company to reach orbit from Indian soil. The flight was also widely reported as making India the …
(Seoul = Yonhap News) India has become the third country in the world, after the United States and China, to successfully launch an orbital rocket developed by a private space company.
Skyroot launches India’s first privately developed orbital rocket: What you need to know
Skyroot Aerospace aims to make history with its Vikram-1 orbital launch on July 18. This mission marks India's first privately developed rocket targeting Earth's orbit. The launch signifies the significant growth of India's private space sector since 2020. Vikram-1 is designed to carry small satellites to low Earth orbit. The mission will capture crucial in-flight data for future commercial launches.
Ars Technica
technewstube.comIndia's first privately developed rocket reaches orbit on dramatic debut launch
On the first attempt, reaching orbit, I never thought it was possible."
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