Skyroot’s Vikram-1 launch vehicle fully stacked at SDSC-SHAR
| Photo Credit:
Jayasri R _12288
Skyroot Aerospace’s maiden test flight of Vikram-1 is scheduled for lift-off from the first launch pad at Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) at 11.30 am on July 18. This would mark the arrival of Indian private-sector spacetech companies in the lucrative global launch business.The Hyderabad-based spacetech unicorn has received all the permissions to launch the mission, christened Mission Aagaman, tomorrow morning.Vikram-1 will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE, along with Cosmos Diamonds’ artwork ‘Cosmic Bloom’ and a micro-art piece.Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure. It is designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO).This will be the first time a private player is attempting an orbital-class rocket in India. The authorities concerned have issued the necessary airspace and maritime notices, formally designating restricted zones along Vikram-1’s ascent and impact corridor for launch day.“We have done everything that could be done to test Vikram-1 on the ground. On 18 July, we are eager to see how Vikram-1 performs in a real flight environment for the first time,” Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skyroot Aerospace, said.“This is our first test flight, and we will be getting valuable data from it. This will be foundational to Skyroot’s aspirations to establish a launch cadence. We are excited to see this through,” he said.“The small satellite launch market is deeply constrained on the supply side. At the same time, the demand for services enabled by satellites in space will only continue to grow, and that is where Skyroot’s opportunity lies,” Pawan said.“With in-flight data gathered from this mission, we will return to the shop floor to learn, improve, and build further,” said Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Skyroot Aerospace, saidPublished on July 16, 2026
