Sriharikota, India: India’s private space sector achieved a landmark milestone as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1 into orbit from Sriharikota, becoming the first Indian private company to complete an orbital rocket mission from Indian soil.
India entered a new chapter in its space journey on July 18 with the successful launch of Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle to reach space. The mission, conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marks the first time an Indian private company has carried out an orbital rocket launch from within the country.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-1 lifted off at 12:05:30 PM under Mission Aagaman. The four-stage launch vehicle successfully deployed two satellites, SCOPE and Grahaa, into Low Earth Orbit, while additional payloads onboard will support a series of in-orbit technology demonstrations.
The achievement represents a significant outcome of India’s 2020 space sector reforms, which opened the country’s space ecosystem to private participation. The mission also highlights the growing collaboration between government agencies and private companies in advancing India’s commercial space capabilities.
ISRO and IN-SPACe played a key role in supporting the mission by providing technical expertise, testing infrastructure and launch facilities. Critical components, including the first-stage solid motor, were cast and tested at facilities in Sriharikota, while the RAMAN-I liquid engine underwent qualification at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. ISRO teams also supported launch operations, vehicle integration, trajectory analysis and mission safety throughout the campaign.
Vikram-1 is designed as a four-stage launch vehicle featuring three solid propulsion stages and a liquid-powered upper stage capable of placing small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. The successful maiden orbital flight follows Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-S suborbital mission in 2022 and demonstrates the company’s progress toward commercial launch services.
The mission is expected to strengthen India’s position in the rapidly expanding global small satellite launch market while showcasing the country’s growing private aerospace capabilities. It also reinforces the broader objective of building a competitive commercial space ecosystem by combining government infrastructure with private-sector innovation.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by ISRO
First private orbital launch lifts off from Sriharikota
