After a brief hold in the countdown, Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, finally lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12.05 p.m. on Saturday. The mission, developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, is being seen as a landmark for India’s private space industry. The launch marks a major milestone.
But why is this rocket different? And why are many calling it a turning point for India’s space programme? Published - July 18, 2026 10:11 pm IST
