Skyroot to attempt India’s first private orbital rocket launch on July 18
Hyderabad, July 16(TNT): Hyderabad-based private space launch company Skyroot Aerospace is set to attempt the maiden test flight of its orbital launch vehicle Vikram-1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, on July 18 at 11.30 a.m., marking India’s first orbital launch attempt by a privately developed rocket.
The mission, christened “Mission Aagaman”, marks the entry of India’s private sector into the global orbital launch market.
Airspace and maritime authorities have issued the necessary Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) and maritime advisories, designating restricted zones along the rocket’s flight path.
Skyroot had created history in November 2022 by launching Vikram-S, India’s first privately built rocket to reach space.
The maiden flight of Vikram-1 will now mark the country’s first private attempt at placing payloads into orbit.
In a release issued here on Thursday, Skyroot Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Pawan Kumar Chandana said all ground tests had been successfully completed and the company was looking forward to evaluating the rocket’s performance in actual flight conditions.
“This is our first test flight and the data generated will be invaluable. It will lay the foundation for establishing a regular launch cadence,” he said.
Vikram-1 will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot’s own SCOPE payload, besides Cosmos Diamonds’ artwork Cosmic Bloom and a micro-art payload.
Chandana said the global small satellite launch market continued to face supply constraints despite rising demand for satellite-enabled services, creating significant opportunities for Skyroot. He described the launch clearance after extensive ground testing as a major milestone in India’s space journey.
Skyroot Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Naga Bharath Daka said the mission represented the efforts of nearly 1,000 people, over 400 suppliers and almost 3,000 days of development.
“The in-flight data from this mission will help us validate every technology developed over the years and enable us to build a reliable, on-demand launch company from India,” he said.
According to the company, all stages of the Vikram-1 launch vehicle have been integrated and stacked on the launch pad, while final integrated checks, telemetry interface tests and tracking radar validations have been completed.
Standing about seven storeys tall, Vikram-1 is a multi-stage orbital 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, with the maiden mission targeting a 450-km orbit at a 60-degree inclination.
Founded by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot is aiming to establish itself as a provider of on-demand launch services for small satellites and achieve India’s first privately developed orbital launch.
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