Sriharikota: Skyroot Aerospace on Saturday made history for India’s private space industry when its Vikram-1 rocket — the country’s first privately built orbital-class launcher — took off from Sriharikota carrying technology demos and a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Called “Mission Aagaman” (arrival), the test flight was carried out by the Hyderabad-based company. The seven-storey, four-stage Vikram-1 lifted from the first pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 12.05 pm after a “planned hold” delayed the launch by 35 minutes from the scheduled 11.30 am because of apparent navigation issues, as reported by The New Indian Express.
After nearly 16 minutes of flight, Vikram-1 is expected to place both domestic and foreign payloads into Low Earth Orbit at about 450 km altitude with a 60-degree inclination. The rocket carries experiments and demonstrators from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE, plus an artwork called “Cosmic Bloom.”
Named after Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of India’s space programme, Vikram-1 uses an all-carbon composite body and indigenous propulsion, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid boosters made by Skyroot.
Skyroot says the flight brings it closer to offering a “cab service to space,” where customers can hire a rocket to place a satellite at a chosen orbital spot or visit a space station, as reported by BBC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the launch, saying it showed India’s push for self-reliance. He called Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana and co-founder Naga Bharath Daka, who watched the launch from ISRO’s Mission Control Centre, to congratulate them.
Prime Minister Modi conveyed his “grand greetings” to the Skyroot team and expressed the hope that today’s “Mission Aagaman” (arrival) will continue to advance successfully. He stated that the mission “proves we can be Atmanirbhar.”
CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana noted that the launch vehicle was entirely designed and manufactured in India, and added, “your card has successfully reached orbit. Vande Mataram is in orbit.”
Sriharikota: Skyroot Aerospace on Saturday made history for India’s private space industry when its Vikram-1 rocket — the country’s first privately built orbital-class launcher — took off from Sriharikota carrying technology demos and a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Called “Mission Aagaman” (arrival), the test flight was carried out by the Hyderabad-based company. The seven-storey, four-stage Vikram-1 lifted from the first pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 12.05 pm after a “planned hold” delayed the launch by 35 minutes from the scheduled 11.30 am because of apparent navigation issues, as reported by The New Indian Express.
After nearly 16 minutes of flight, Vikram-1 is expected to place both domestic and foreign payloads into Low Earth Orbit at about 450 km altitude with a 60-degree inclination. The rocket carries experiments and demonstrators from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE, plus an artwork called “Cosmic Bloom.”
Named after Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of India’s space programme, Vikram-1 uses an all-carbon composite body and indigenous propulsion, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid boosters made by Skyroot.
Skyroot says the flight brings it closer to offering a “cab service to space,” where customers can hire a rocket to place a satellite at a chosen orbital spot or visit a space station, as reported by BBC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the launch, saying it showed India’s push for self-reliance. He called Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana and co-founder Naga Bharath Daka, who watched the launch from ISRO’s Mission Control Centre, to congratulate them.
Prime Minister Modi conveyed his “grand greetings” to the Skyroot team and expressed the hope that today’s “Mission Aagaman” (arrival) will continue to advance successfully. He stated that the mission “proves we can be Atmanirbhar.”
CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana noted that the launch vehicle was entirely designed and manufactured in India, and added, “your card has successfully reached orbit. Vande Mataram is in orbit.”
