India achieved a major milestone in its space journey as Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, marking a new chapter in India’s commercial space sector.

The Vikram-1 rocket successfully deployed six payloads, including two satellites, into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), demonstrating the capability of India’s first private orbital launch vehicle.

Standing 23 metres tall with a 1.7-metre diameter, the rocket lifted off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12:05 pm. It successfully placed the payloads into an orbit approximately 450 kilometres above the Earth, achieving the mission’s primary objective of validating the performance of the launch vehicle.

Apart from commercial payloads, the mission also carried several symbolic items. These included “Cosmic Bloom,” an artwork created from laboratory-grown diamonds by Cosmos Diamonds, a micro-art payload, and a handwritten postcard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Skyroot Aerospace said its long-term vision is to make access to space simpler, more affordable, and commercially viable. The company aims to become a “cab service for space,” allowing businesses, research institutions, and satellite operators to launch satellites into orbit through its launch vehicles whenever required.

According to the company, lowering the barriers to space access will encourage innovation, support startups, and accelerate the growth of advanced technologies in India. The successful Vikram-1 mission represents a significant step toward achieving that vision and strengthens India’s growing private space ecosystem.

This is not Skyroot Aerospace’s first achievement. In November 2022, the company successfully launched Vikram-S, India’s first privately built sub-orbital rocket, under the mission named “Prarambh.” That historic launch demonstrated the capability of Indian private companies to build and operate space launch vehicles.

The successful orbital launch of Vikram-1 now marks another landmark achievement, reinforcing India’s position as an emerging global player in the commercial space industry and highlighting the increasing role of private enterprises in the country’s space ambitions.