Meet Prithvi Sanghani: Farmer's daughter who helped build the autopilot system for India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1

Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace launched the country's first privately developed orbital rocket earlier this month. The Vikram-1 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 18 carrying several customer payloads and in-orbit experiments on its maiden orbital mission, dubbed "Mission Aagaman".

Behind the roaring engines and dramatic liftoff stood a team of engineers whose work made the mission possible. Among them was Prithvi Sanghani, a young engineer from a farmer's family in Gujarat who played a key role in developing the rocket's autopilot control system.

From Gujarat's farmlands to India's space industry

Prithvi Sanghani grew up in Jamnagar, Gujarat, in a family of farmers. Unlike many aerospace professionals, she had no direct connection to the space industry during her childhood. What she did have was a passion for engineering and an ambition to work on technologies that could make a national impact.


After completing her engineering degree in Rajkot, she chose an uncommon path by specializing in Missile Technology. She later earned her master's degree in Pune, equipping herself with expertise in guidance, navigation and control systems used in advanced defence and aerospace projects.

Started her career at DRDO

Before entering the private space sector, Prithvi began her professional journey at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a Project Engineer.

During her stint at DRDO, she contributed to India's missile development programmes, gaining hands-on experience in complex defence technologies. While it was already a prestigious career, she wanted to be part of India's fast-growing private space revolution.

The engineer behind Vikram-1's autopilot system

Prithvi later joined Skyroot Aerospace, becoming part of the team behind Mission Aagaman.

As the Control System Lead for Vikram-1's autopilot system, she worked on one of the rocket's most critical components. The autopilot system continuously monitors the rocket during flight and helps ensure it follows its planned trajectory by making precise control adjustments.

Although rocket launches often spotlight the spacecraft itself, experts know that thousands of hours of software development, simulations, testing and engineering go into ensuring every mission succeeds. Engineers like Prithvi work behind the scenes to solve highly complex problems long before launch day arrives.

IIT Madras learner now pursuing her next dream abroad

After contributing to one of India's biggest private space milestones, Prithvi is now pursuing higher studies abroad to deepen her expertise in aerospace technologies.

Her academic journey reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and highlights how Indian engineers are increasingly contributing to global advancements in space technology.

An inspiring story for students

Prithvi Sanghani's story is proof that talent and determination can overcome geographical and financial barriers. Coming from a farming background, she went on to contribute to India's first privately developed orbital rocket through years of focused education and hard work.

As India's private space ecosystem continues to expand, engineers from smaller towns are finding opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies alongside some of the country's brightest minds.

For students dreaming of careers in aerospace, rocketry or space exploration—and especially for young girls considering STEM fields—Prithvi's journey sends a powerful message: your background does not define your future. With the right skills, persistence and curiosity, even the biggest dreams can take flight.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information about Prithvi Sanghani's academic and professional journey and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.