India’s first privately developed orbital rocket Vikram-1 to launch between July 12 and Aug 5
Hyderabad, July 2 (TNT): Hyderabad-based private space technology company Skyroot Aerospace on Thursday announced that the maiden test flight of its Vikram-1 launch vehicle, ndia’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket will be conducted during a launch window from July 12 to August 4, marking a major milestone for the country’s private space sector.
In a release, the Hyderabad based company said Mission Aagaman is scheduled for launch no earlier than July 12, subject to the successful completion of vehicle assembly and testing at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, besides favourable weather, safety and range clearances.
The mission will be India’s first attempt by a private company to place a launch vehicle into orbit and is aimed at validating the performance of Vikram-1 across all phases of flight.
Skyroot Aerospace Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Pawan Kumar Chandana said “The single most important objective of Mission Aagaman is to capture real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. The mission will validate our designs and help us build a reliable, high-cadence commercial launch programme. The moment Vikram-1 lifts off, India’s private space industry will cross a threshold it has never crossed before,” Mission Aagaman follows the successful launch of Vikram-S in November 2022, which became the first privately developed rocket to reach space from Indian soil”.
Skyroot said the maiden orbital mission would be a partially commercial flight, carrying payloads for domestic and international customers. Full commercial launch services are expected to commence after one or two successful demonstration missions.
According to the company, all stages of Vikram-1 have been integrated and stacked at the launch pad. The flight will generate critical data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance to support its commercial certification.
Standing about seven storeys tall, Vikram-1 is a multi-stage launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by indigenously developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid rocket motors.
It is designed to place satellites weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with the maiden mission targeting a 450-km orbit at a 60-degree inclination.
The flight-ready launch vehicle was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of Skyroot’s Infinity campus in November 2025.
The company said the mission comes at a time when India’s space economy is projected to grow from around USD 8.4 billion to USD 44 billion by 2033, with indigenous launch capability expected to play a key role in expanding commercial satellite services and strengthening the country’s private space ecosystem.
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