Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Skyroot Aerospace after India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, successfully reached orbit, marking a historic milestone for the country's space sector.
PM Modi spoke to Skyroot Aerospace founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka and their team over a phone call following the successful mission, in which Vikram-1 completed its final burn and deployed its payloads into a 450-km orbit.
The successful launch makes India the third country in the world to achieve private orbital launch capability, placing it among a select group of nations with privately built rockets capable of reaching orbit.
Historic Launch From Sriharikota
Named Mission Aagaman (Arrival), the test flight lifted off from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12.05 pm.
The launch was originally scheduled for 11.30 am but was delayed by 35 minutes following a planned hold due to apparent navigation issues.
The seven-storey-tall, four-stage Vikram-1 completed its ascent in just under 16 minutes, successfully placing its payloads into a 450-km orbit with an inclination of 60 degrees.
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Advanced Indigenous Technology
Named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, regarded as the father of India's space programme, Vikram-1 features an all-carbon composite structure and is powered by propulsion systems developed in-house by Skyroot Aerospace.
The launch vehicle also uses 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters, showcasing advanced indigenous technology developed by the Hyderabad-based startup.
Payloads And PM's Postcard
The rocket carried multiple technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot's own SCOPE platform.
It also carried an artwork titled "Cosmic Bloom" and a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making the mission symbolic as well as technological.
The successful launch is being seen as a major boost for India's rapidly expanding private space industry following policy reforms that opened the sector to private participation.