India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, Vikram-1, has successfully reached orbit, marking a significant milestone for the country’s commercial space ambitions. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said the achievement reflects the impact of India’s space sector reforms and strengthens the nation’s position in the global space industry.
India has entered a new phase in its space journey after Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 successfully completed its maiden orbital mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The launch makes Skyroot Aerospace the first private Indian company to place a launch vehicle into orbit, a milestone that the government says validates its decision to open the space sector to private participation.
Speaking after witnessing the launch, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, described the mission as a defining moment for India’s commercial space ecosystem. He said the success demonstrated how public-private collaboration is reshaping the country’s space capabilities.
The Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s space sector reforms for creating opportunities for private companies to participate in areas that were previously inaccessible. He noted that the reforms have helped build an ecosystem where Indian innovators can develop world-class technologies using national space infrastructure.
Dr. Singh also acknowledged the contributions of ISRO, IN-SPACe and the Department of Space in establishing a framework that enables private enterprises to work alongside the country’s established space institutions. He said the collaborative approach has accelerated innovation while encouraging entrepreneurship in the sector.
Standing nearly 22 metres tall, Vikram-1 is India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The rocket incorporates several indigenous technologies, including India’s first all-carbon composite orbital rocket, a 100% 3D-printed liquid engine powering its orbital adjustment module, advanced thrust-vector control systems, and one of the country’s largest monolithic carbon-composite rocket stages. The mission also validated critical propulsion, avionics, telemetry, navigation and flight-control systems required for future commercial launches.
Dr. Singh said the mission represents more than a successful rocket launch. According to him, it signals India’s emergence as a trusted and technologically capable player in the global commercial space market, while demonstrating the country’s growing ability to compete in advanced space technologies.
He added that India’s space economy has expanded rapidly since the landmark reforms introduced in 2020. The country now has more than 400 space start-ups, its first unicorn in the sector, and a space economy approaching USD 9 billion, with a national vision of expanding it to nearly USD 44 billion over the next decade.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau, Department of Space, Government of India
Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau
