Hyderabad, Nov 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s new Infinity Campus in Hyderabad, calling it a milestone made possible by the government’s “historic” space reforms. He also unveiled the company’s first orbital rocket, Vikram-I, capable of launching satellites into orbit.
Modi said India’s decision to open the space sector to private players has fueled innovation, enabling startups like Skyroot to emerge as major contributors. More than 300 space startups are now active in the country, he noted, calling their growth a sign of India’s expanding youth-driven innovation ecosystem.
He described the Infinity Campus as a symbol of India’s “new thought, new innovation and rising youth power,” and said global investors are increasingly drawn to India’s private space sector. The PM traced India’s space journey from its humble beginnings — when rocket parts were transported on bicycles — to today’s reputation for highly reliable launch vehicles.
With space applications expanding across communication, weather forecasting, urban planning and national security, Modi said the government introduced sweeping reforms, a new space policy and the creation of IN-SPACe to foster industry participation. He added that the government is also exploring ways to open parts of the nuclear sector to private entities.
Skyroot’s new facility spans nearly two lakh sq. ft., equipped to design, build, integrate and test multiple launch vehicles, with the capability to produce one orbital rocket every month. Founded by former ISRO scientists and IIT alumni Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka, Skyroot became the first Indian private company to launch a sub-orbital rocket with the Vikram-S mission in 2022.
The rapid rise of private space enterprises, officials said earlier, underscores the success of recent reforms and strengthens India’s position as an emerging global space power. (Agencies)
