Vikram 1 Launched: Skyroot's rocket successfully enters space to script India's private space milestone

Forty-six years after SLV-3 marked India's first successful satellite launch, Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 successfully lifted off and from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Saturday and further entered the space, becoming the country's first privately developed orbital-class rocket to take flight from Indian soil and marking the start of India's maiden private orbital launch attempt.

The launch, dubbed Mission Aagaman, signals a major milestone for India's growing private space sector and could make Skyroot the first Indian private company to place payloads into orbit.

The seven-storey-tall rocket lifted off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, following the completion of all launch preparations, including integrated vehicle checks, telemetry interface verification and tracking radar tests. Authorities had also issued the required airspace and maritime clearances ahead of the launch.


The Vikram-1 launch was delayed by 35 minutes with Skyroot Aerospace citing a 'planned hold'.

On a cloudy day, the four-stage Vikram-1 rocket lifted off at 12.05 pm which was earlier delayed by 35 minutes due to apparent navigation issues.

Also Read: Skyroot's Vikram-1 beats SpaceX in 1st attempt: How Pawan Kumar Chandana's team achieved what even Elon Musk couldn't in three tries

'Dawn of a new era'

Skyroot Aerospace announced the successful launch of Vikram-1 as 'dawn of a new era'.

"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," the space company said.

Addressing the public after the successful mission, Vikram-1 mission director said, "This mission is a grand success," as the rocket launch marked the first time in history that a rocket has been launched successfully in the first attempt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up and congratulated Skyroot Aerospace as Vikram-1 successfully reached orbit after completing its final burn and injecting payloads into a 450 km orbit.

Vikram-1: India's first privately developed orbital rocket

Developed entirely by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-1 is the company's first orbital launch vehicle and its second mission after the successful Vikram-S suborbital flight in November 2022, which became the first privately built rocket to reach space from India.

Built with an all-carbon composite structure, Vikram-1 is powered by in-house propulsion technologies, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid rocket boosters. The vehicle is designed to carry payloads weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit. During its maiden mission, the rocket is targeting a 450-km orbit at an inclination of 60 degrees.

The mission also underscores the expansion of India's private space ecosystem following policy reforms that opened the sector to private participation. According to a PIB release, India's space startup ecosystem has grown from one startup in 2014 to more than 400 in 2026, supported by reforms including the Indian Space Policy 2023.

Also read: Skyroot's Vikram-1 launch today: All you should know about India's first private orbital rocket

Payloads onboard Mission Aagaman

The maiden flight is carrying multiple technology demonstration payloads including Skyroot Aerospace's SCOPE payload, Grahaa Space's SOLARAS S3 satellite, DCUBED's technology demonstration payload, and Cosmoserve Space's Embrace robotic arm designed to capture orbital debris.

The mission is also carrying "Cosmic Bloom", a floral artwork created by Cosmos Diamonds, along with an 18-karat gold micro-rocket featuring microscopic sculptures of C.V. Raman, Vikram Sarabhai and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, each smaller than a grain of rice, as a tribute to India's pioneering scientists.

In addition, Vikram-1 is carrying a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the message "Vande Mataram", as well as postcards from engineers, scientists and Indian astronauts.

The launch marks the first flight of an orbital-class launch vehicle designed, developed and integrated by a private Indian company, highlighting the rapid growth of India's commercial space ecosystem, following space sector reforms, including the Indian Space Policy 2023, which opened the space value chain to private participation.

According to IN-SPACe Technical Director Rajesh Jothi, the ecosystem has expanded from only five or six startups before the reforms to more than 400 companies working across launch vehicles, satellites and downstream applications, as reported by ANI.

Vikram-1 technology

Skyroot has described Mission Aagaman primarily as a technology demonstration flight aimed at evaluating the rocket's performance and onboard systems under actual flight conditions.

Engineering data generated during the mission will be used to assess the vehicle's guidance, navigation and overall flight performance, helping refine future versions of Vikram-1 and support the company's plans to establish regular commercial launch services.

Skyroot's long-term vision

Skyroot aims to build an on-demand launch service for small satellites, allowing customers to access dedicated launches instead of waiting for shared missions.

In an interview with the BBC, Skyroot co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Pawan Kumar Chandana likened the company's model to a "cab service to space", saying satellite operators could book dedicated launches tailored to their mission requirements instead of relying on fixed schedules. He said the company aims to reduce long waiting periods for satellite launches by offering flexible launch opportunities for small payloads.

The BBC reported that a successful Vikram-1 mission would make India only the third country, after the United States and China, to have a private company capable of launching rockets into orbit.

PM Modi extends wishes

Ahead of the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Mission Aagaman as a "historic new frontier" in India's space journey and said the mission reflected the country's talent, entrepreneurial spirit and the opportunities created through space sector reforms. He also urged citizens, particularly young people, to follow the mission and extend their support to Team Skyroot.

“This four-stage rocket is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services. This mission highlights the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of our youth. It also shows how our space-sector reforms are unlocking new opportunities for innovation and enterprise,” he said.