History Made! India’s First Private Orbital Rocket Vikram-1 Blasts Off Successfully, Carries PM Modi’s Postcard Into Space
Mumbai: India scripted a historic milestone in its space journey on Saturday as the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, successfully lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, the landmark launch marks a major breakthrough for India’s growing private space sector.
The launch, named Mission Aagaman, also carried a unique payload a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several technology demonstration payloads from Indian and international partners.
Vikram-1 Successfully Lifts Off After Brief Delay
Originally scheduled for 11:30 am, the launch was delayed by around 35 minutes after the countdown was briefly paused due to a navigation-related issue.
Following the resolution of the issue, Vikram-1 lifted off successfully at 12:05 pm, soaring into the sky from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Standing as tall as a seven-storey building, the four-stage rocket is expected to complete its powered flight in less than 16 minutes before deploying its payloads into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at a 60-degree inclination.
Built With Advanced Indigenous Technology
Named after Indian space pioneer Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the Vikram-1 rocket has been built using lightweight carbon composite materials and is powered by advanced propulsion systems developed by Skyroot Aerospace.
The rocket features 3D-printed engines along with high-thrust solid-fuel boosters, showcasing the technological capabilities of India’s private space industry.
Mission Carries Multiple Payloads
Apart from demonstrating Skyroot’s launch capabilities, Mission Aagaman is carrying technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot’s SCOPE platform.
The mission also includes an artwork titled “Cosmic Bloom”, which is travelling into orbit alongside the other payloads.
Vikram-1 To Reach Five Times The Speed Of Sound
According to Skyroot Aerospace’s mission profile, the rocket is expected to accelerate rapidly after liftoff.
The vehicle is projected to cross Mach 1, or the speed of sound, around 25 seconds after launch.
Within approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds, Vikram-1 is expected to reach Mach 5—around five times the speed of sound. Shortly after achieving this speed, the rocket’s first stage will separate, allowing the mission to progress to the next phase of its flight.
The successful launch of Vikram-1 marks a defining moment for India’s private space ecosystem, opening new opportunities for commercial satellite launches and strengthening the country’s position in the global space industry.
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