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?

Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket, will launch on July 18, 2026, from Sriharikota.

Skyroot's Vikram-1 (Google Trends): India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, was successfully launched today. This mission, named Mission Aagaman, marks a…

India's first private rocket, Vikram-1, successfully launches into orbit, marking a milestone for the private space sector.