Sriharikota, Jul 18: India marked a major milestone in its commercial space journey on Saturday as Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, lifted off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota under Mission Aagaman.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, the test flight carried multiple technology demonstration payloads, including a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signifying a landmark moment for India’s growing private space sector.
The seven-storey-tall, four-stage launch vehicle blasted off at 12.05 pm from the spaceport’s first launch pad after a planned 35-minute delay from the scheduled 11.30 am launch due to apparent navigation-related issues.
During its nearly 16-minute mission, Vikram-1 is expected to deploy a mix of domestic and international payloads into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an inclination of 60 degrees.
Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, widely regarded as the father of India’s space programme, the launch vehicle features an all-carbon composite structure and is powered by indigenously developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters.
The rocket is carrying payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s SCOPE, besides an artwork titled “Cosmic Bloom.”
The launch marks the first attempt by an Indian private company to place payloads into orbit, underscoring the rapid expansion of the country’s commercial space ecosystem. (Agencies)
