India’s first privately developed orbital rocket made its debut flight on Saturday, according to the company, marking a major milestone for the South Asian nation as it seeks a larger share of the global space industry.
The Vikram-1 rocket, created by Skyroot Aerospace and designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre amid enthusiastic cheers.
“Hello space, we’ve arrived!” Skyroot Aerospace announced on X (formerly Twitter). “Vikram-1’s Test Flight-1 successfully completed its mission. This is India’s first-ever private sector launch.”
Standing approximately as tall as a seven-story building, Vikram-1 can carry payloads up to 350 kilograms (771 pounds).
Pawan Goenka, head of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), praised the achievement as “far beyond expectations for a first-ever orbital launch conducted by an Indian private company.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it “a defining moment in India’s space journey.”
“The increasing involvement of private sector players is unlocking new frontiers and driving innovation,” Modi stated. “This success will inspire countless young people to aim higher and push boundaries.”
The rocket is carrying a variety of payloads, including a lab-grown diamond and robotic arms capable of removing space debris.
Among the payloads is a tiny 18-karat gold rocket featuring miniature sculptures of Indian physicists Vikram Sarabhai, C.V. Raman, and former President and aerospace engineer A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
India’s space ambitions—built on decades of investments by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)—have gained momentum recently.
Since opening the sector to private companies in 2020, the country’s space economy, valued at approximately $8.4 billion, has rapidly grown and now hosts more than 400 space startups.
‘Reaching New Heights’
“India’s space ambitions continue to soar!” Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said after the successful launch.
In August 2023, India became just the fourth nation to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon, joining Russia, the U.S., and China.
Former ISRO chairman K. Sivan praised the innovative efforts of space startups, emphasizing that the nation is now seeing “the fruits of the seeds planted” when the private sector was opened to commercial space activity.
“Skyroot’s rocket, among the most complex and challenging technologies in space systems, will motivate many,” Sivan told AFP. “This launch will undoubtedly influence global perceptions.”
“When an Indian startup can create such challenging space technology, it significantly enhances India’s reputation worldwide.”