- Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1, India's first private orbital rocket, successfully.
- The Vikram-1 rocket carries tech payloads and artwork from various Indian organizations.
- The rocket is a seven-storey, multi-stage vehicle designed for small satellite launches.
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.
The liftoff encountered a little hiccup as the rocket blastoff was put on a "planned hold" just minutes before the scheduled timing of 11:30 am by the mission control team.
At 12:21 pm, history was made when the mission was declared successful as the commentators at the launch site announced, "Hello, space. We have arrived", with the injection of the payload in its orbit.
The liftoff has secured its place in the history of India's space missions.
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has joined a small and elite group of global companies that have successfully developed and launched orbital rockets.
The mission, called 'Aagaman', marks the arrival of India's private sector in the global launch business.
Vikram-1 is carrying technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot's own SCOPE, along with Cosmos Diamonds' artwork "Cosmic Bloom" and a micro-art piece featuring micro-sculptures of Sir CV Raman, Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters.
Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), its first test flight is targeting a 450 km orbit at a 60-degree inclination.
As celebrations filled the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Prime Minister dialled Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana to congratulate the team.
Congratulating the Skyroot team on the historic feat, the Prime Minister told the young team, "you have made India proud."
"You have planted India's aspirations in space and have also given roots to the dreams of the youth," PM Modi told Chandana as his team listened to the PM's praise on speakerphone.
Commending the young team, the Prime Minister said they had shown what India's youth are capable of. Chandana pointed out that the average age of his team is 28 years.
"Your team has proved my faith in the youth of India right. Many doubted our space dreams, but this team has shown that if trusted, Indian youth can do wonders," the PM told the beaming team.
Ahead of Mission 'Aagaman', Skyroot Aerospace said its Vikram-1 rocket also carries the signatures of the engineers, technicians and team members who helped build it, honouring everyone behind India's landmark private space mission.
Named after the father of India's space programme, Vikram Sarabhai, the Vikram-1 vehicle represents the next step for Skyroot after the company's successful Vikram-S suborbital mission in November 2022.
