The mission, named Aagaman, lifted off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota at 12:05 noon. The mission completed all four stages as planned.
The success marks India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle mission and a major leap towards building commercial, on-demand satellite launch services from the country.
The mission positions Skyroot to compete in the fast-growing global market for dedicated small satellite launches, where customers are seeking quicker and more flexible access to space.
The four-stage launch vehicle carried six technology demonstration payloads and is aimed at validating Skyroot’s launch systems and generating flight data for future commercial missions.
Also Read: Skyroot launches India’s first privately developed orbital rocket: What you need to know
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the company and described the launch as a landmark moment for India’s private space industry. Ahead of the launch, PM Modi said Vikram-1 showcased the “talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit” of India’s youth and reflected how the country’s space-sector reforms were creating new opportunities for innovation and enterprise.
He had urged Indians, especially young people, to follow the mission and support the Skyroot team.
“We have done everything that could be done to test Vikram-1 on the ground. This first test flight will give us valuable data and will be foundational to establishing launch cadence,” Pawan Kumar Chandana, cofounder and chief executive of Skyroot Aerospace, had said before the launch.
The rocket carried technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot’s own SCOPE payload, besides Cosmos Diamonds’ artwork Cosmic Bloom and a micro-art payload.
Mission Aagaman follows Skyroot’s successful Vikram-S suborbital mission in November 2022, which became the first privately developed rocket to reach space from Indian soil.
Founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot became India’s first spacetech unicorn after raising $60 million earlier this year. The startup has raised about $155 million to date from investors including GIC, Temasek, Peak XV Partners and other backers.
Vikram-1 is designed to carry payloads of up to 300 kg to low-Earth orbit, targeting the fast-growing small satellite launch market. The company is betting on rising global demand for dedicated launches for small satellites as governments and private companies expand earth observation, communications and defence constellations.
“This test flight is the first step towards creating a reliable, on-demand launch company for the world from India,” cofounder and chief operating officer Naga Bharath Daka had said ahead of the launch.
The mission is being closely watched by the global space industry as it marks India’s first privately built orbital launch vehicle to fly following the opening up of the country’s space sector in 2020. A successful demonstration will mean that India can be a growing market for customised launch operations for startups across the globe.
The startup has joined an exclusive list of private companies capable of regular orbital launches, currently led by SpaceX in the United States and Rocket Lab in New Zealand. Other players such as Firefly are also part of this small cohort.