India's first privately built rocket, Vikram-S, launched by ISRO

Skyroot launched India’s first private rocket. They want to make it as easy as booking a taxi

Space is the final frontier, and many private companies are trying to explore it. One of them is Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian startup that launched the country’s first privately developed rocket, Vikram-S, into space on November 18, 2022. The launch was supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the state-run space agency that has dominated the Indian space industry for decades.

Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. Their vision is to make spaceflight affordable, reliable, and regular for small satellites. They have developed a series of orbital-class launch vehicles, named after the Indian space pioneer Vikram Sarabhai, that can carry payloads ranging from 80 kg to 700 kg to various orbits.

Vikram-S was the first rocket in the series to be launched. It was a suborbital demonstration mission that tested and validated many technologies and subsystems for the future orbital launches. The rocket, weighing 546 kg, reached an altitude of 89.5 km and performed several maneuvers before re-entering the atmosphere. The mission was a success and a milestone for the Indian private space sector.

Skyroot Aerospace plans to launch its first orbital mission, Vikram-I, in 2023. It will be capable of delivering 225 kg to a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) or 315 kg to a 45 degree inclination low earth orbit (LEO). The company has already signed contracts with several customers, including ISRO, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel Space, and Bellatrix Aerospace.

The company’s ultimate goal is to make launching satellites as easy as booking a taxi. They want to offer on-demand and reliable rides to space for small satellite operators who need flexibility and affordability. They also want to leverage new technologies such as reusable rockets, cryogenic engines, and software-defined avionics to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Skyroot Aerospace is not alone in this endeavor. There are other Indian startups that are working on developing their own launch vehicles, such as Agnikul Cosmos, Bellatrix Aerospace, and Dhruva Space. They are all part of a new wave of private space companies that are emerging in India after the government announced a new policy in 2020 that opened up the space sector for private participation.

India has a huge potential to become a global leader in the small satellite launch market, which is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. According to a report by Euroconsult, there will be over 11,600 small satellites launched between 2020 and 2029, with a total market value of $35 billion. India has the advantage of having a large pool of talent, low-cost manufacturing, and strategic geographic location for launching satellites.

Skyroot Aerospace is one of the pioneers in this field, and they have made history by launching India’s first private rocket. They have shown that space is not only for governments and billionaires, but also for entrepreneurs and innovators who have a passion for exploring the unknown. They have also shown that space is not only a destination, but also an opportunity for creating value and solving problems on Earth.

Sources: 

(1) Skyroot | Opening Space For All. https://skyroot.in/.

(2) India’s first private rocket Vikram-S is launched into space - CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/business/india-skyroot-vikram-s-rocket-launch-hnk-intl/index.html.

(3) India's first private rocket Vikram-S built by Skyroot Aerospace lifts .... https://www.oneindia.com/india/india-first-private-rocket-vikram-s-built-by-skyroot-aerospace-lifts-off-from-sriharikota-3489177.html.

(4) SKYROOT | Vikram-S. https://skyroot.in/vks.html.

(5) India’s first private rocket Vikram-S is launched into space - CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/business/india-skyroot-vikram-s-rocket-launch-hnk-intl/index.html.

(6) Skyroot | Opening Space For All. https://skyroot.in/.

(7) SKYROOT | Vikram-S. https://skyroot.in/vks.html.

FAQ's

Which is the first private rocket launched by Skyroot?

Vikram-S Vikram-S,India's first privately built rocket was launched on 18 November 2022 by Skyroot Aerospace from Sriharikota.

Which is the first privately made rocket in India?

Vikram-S Rocket, India's first privately developed rocket launched from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at the Sriharikota launchpad. The launch of Vikram-S Rocket by ISRO is a historic moment.

When was the first rocket launched by Skyroot?

18 November 2022 On 18 November 2022 Skyroot Aerospace performed the maiden launch of its Vikram-S suborbital rocket, becoming the first Indian private company to reach outer space (apogee was 89.5 km).

Which company has launched India's first private rocket launch at Sriharikota?

NEW DELHI: Just days after the launch of India's first privately built rocket Vikram-S, the country's first private launch pad has been opened at Sriharikota. Space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos on Monday announced the opening of the launch pad, designed and operated by it.