Space startup Skyroot Aerospace scripted history on Saturday (Jul 18) by becoming the first private company in India to deploy an indigenously developed rocket into orbit. The historic milestone made India only the third country in the world, after the United States and China, to possess private orbital launch capabilities. Calling it the 'biggest whitepill of all time,' Caleb Frisen, a Canadian national who has been living in India for the last eight years and covering tech and space news, said the next chapter of India's space journey had officially started.

July 18, 2026, will always be remembered as the day the first privately developed rocket successfully attempted an orbital mission. Exactly 46 years earlier, on July 18, 1980, India's first indigenously developed satellite launch vehicle, the SLV-3, placed the Rohini (RS-1) satellite into low-Earth orbit, making the country a member of an elite space club.  

NDTV discussed this with Pawan Kumar Chandana, the CEO of Skyroot, after his company created history with the Vikram-1 launch on Saturday. 

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As India celebrates Vikram-1's successful orbital mission, a new chapter has begun in the country's space journey. At the heart of this milestone are two former ISRO scientists who once worked inside India's national space programme and are now creating history from the other side of the launch pad.

Cheers and congratulations filled the room at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre following the successful launch of Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1. The celebration intensified when Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the team directly. Commending the young scientists and engineers for a historic breakthrough in India's private space sector, the Prime Minister noted that their success had brought great pride to the entire nation.

Speaking to Skyroot CEO and Co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana and his team, PM Modi said the mission had not only taken India's space ambitions forward but had also inspired the dreams of young Indians.

"You have planted India's aspirations in space and have also given roots to the dreams of the youth," PM Modi told Chandana during the nine-minute call.

Highlighting the youth-driven nature of the mission, Chandana told the Prime Minister that the average age of the Skyroot team was just 28 years.

Anxiety and nervousness gave way to excitement and euphoria as the clock struck 12:05:30 on a clear Saturday afternoon at the Sriharikota launch pad.

As Skyroot's Vikram-1 rocket soared into space, it became the first privately developed Indian rocket to attempt an orbital mission, marking a defining moment not just for the company but also for India's rapidly emerging private space sector.

Vikram-1 is India's longest monolithic carbon composite rocket stage, which showcases advances in indigenous composite manufacturing and aerospace engineering.

Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 is packed with advanced technologies including 3D-printed engines, carbon composite structures and indigenous propulsion systems.

Skyroot Aerospace's plans to launch the country's first privately developed orbital-class rocket before August 4 mark the next major step for the growing Indian space industry.

PM Modi calls up Skyroot Aerospace founders, greets them on country's maiden private rocket's success. He says the success of India's maiden private rocket proves country's 'Atmanirbharta' push.

Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has reached orbit. India's first privately developed orbital rocket has completed its final burn and injected its payloads into a ~450 km orbit, making India the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability. 

Vikram-1 Test Flight-1's Orbital Adjustment Module fires up its 3D-printed liquid engine - the one stage that can start, stop and restart in space - for the final push to orbit. 

The solid-propulsion phase is complete. 

Every solid stage of Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has fired and separated as designed. Next up: the Orbital Adjustment Module.

Kalam-100, the smallest and highest-flying solid stage, fires to give Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 its next major push toward orbit.

Kalam-250 has completed its burn and separated, clearing the way for the next push toward orbit. 

Vikram-1 Test Flight- 1 has shed the protective shell that shielded its payloads through the atmosphere. 

The satellites meet space for the first time. 

Kalam-1200 - Vikram-1 Test Flight-1's solid first stage - has carried the rocket through the thickest part of the atmosphere and separated cleanly.

At T+10 seconds, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has cleared the launch tower. 

Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh watches the live broadcast of the launch of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1.

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh watches the live broadcast of the launch of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1. It has been launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota pic.twitter.com/Jws5VI337U

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2026

Skyroot's Vikram-1, India's 1st privately developed orbital rocket, lifts off for historic mission

Vikram-1's launch put on "planned hold" minutes before takeoff

Named after the father of India's space programme, Vikram Sarabhai, Vikram-1 represents the next stage of Skyroot Aerospace's journey.

Ahead of Mission Aagaman, Skyroot Aerospace said its Vikram-1 rocket carries the signatures of the engineers, technicians and team members who helped build it, honouring everyone behind India's landmark private space mission.

Heading to Sriharikota with Devaansh today for what promises to be a memorable father-son day. Every great spacefaring nation began with a dream - of daring to build, to innovate, and to push the boundaries of what seemed possible. Today is about celebrating that spirit.
What... pic.twitter.com/G19Oy7IYxU

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) July 18, 2026

Speaking to NDTV, IN-SPACe Chairman Dr Pawan Goenka described Vikram-1 as a milestone not just for Skyroot Aerospace but also for India and the global space industry.

"I think it is a big milestone for all three. For Skyroot, for India, and perhaps even for the world," Dr Goenka said.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former Chairman S Somnath also extended his best wishes to the Skyroot Aerospace team, calling the mission a significant milestone for India's growing private space sector.

My very best wishes to Team Skyroot Aerospace on the test launch of Mission Aagaman with Vikram-1 orbital rocket today.
This is far more than the maiden orbital flight of a rocket, it marks the arrival of India's private rocket building capability and reflects the remarkable... pic.twitter.com/KIvQpX5mDd

— Dr. S Somanath (@SomanathSpeak) July 18, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the maiden orbital launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed launch vehicle, describing it as a "historic new frontier" in the country's space journey and a reflection of the talent and entrepreneurial spirit of India's youth.

In a post on X ahead of the launch, the Prime Minister said Vikram-1, developed by Skyroot Aerospace, is India's first privately built orbital launch vehicle and is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services.

A historic new frontier for India's space journey!
At 11:30 AM today, Skyroot Aerospace will undertake the maiden orbital launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed launch vehicle.
This four-stage rocket is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services.... pic.twitter.com/1qFVTwNOuZ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 18, 2026