And, blast-off: Skyroot launches India’s first pvt sector rocket Vikram-S

India successfully launched its first privately developed rocket, the Vikram-S, on Friday, marking “a new era” for the country’s commercial space industry. The 545-kilogram rocket, developed by space start-up Skyroot Aerospace, took off from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) launch site in Sriharikota, near Chennai, at around 11.30 am and hit a peak altitude of 89.5 kilometres.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the successful foray of a private player into the country’s space sector. “A historic moment for India…It is an important milestone in the journey of India’s private space industry,” he tweeted.

India opened the space sector for private companies in 2020, allowing them to build rockets and satellites as part of the Prarambh mission.

The Vikram-S rocket aimed at validating 80 per cent of technologies that will be used in the Vikram-1 orbital vehicle, planned for launch next year. The rocket carried three payloads built by Andhra Pradesh-based N Space Tech India, Chennai-based start-up Space Kids, and Armenian BazoomQ Space Research Lab.

The rocket is a single-stage solid fuelled, sub-orbital rocket that took about two years to develop. It has been built using advanced technologies, including carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components.

Within 80 seconds of launch, it was announced that the rocket had achieved hypersonic velocity, and after 155 seconds, it met the peak altitude.

The launch was called a success when the rocket crossed an altitude of 50 km. “I am happy to announce the successful completion of the Prarambh mission. The rocket achieved an altitude of 89.5 km. All systems worked according to the plan. Today is a milestone for the country. It became possible because of the space sector reforms announced in June 2020,” said businessman Pawan Goenka, who heads the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), which coordinates between private space firms and ISRO.

“We scripted history today. The Prarambh mission is the beginning of a new era in Indian space research. This is a small step by a start-up and a giant leap for the Indian space industry,” said Pawan Chandana, co-founder of Skyroot. “Next, our focus is developing our flagship Vikram I orbital vehicle that we would launch next year.”

Jitendra Singh, minister of state for science and technology, who also attended the event, said: “It is a major step forward by India to develop its space ecosystem and emerge as the leader in new space frontiers. This is indeed a turning point in India’s start-up moment.”

Skyroot, one of the most funded start-ups in the space sector in India, having raised about $68 million, said it was targeting both commercial and government customers, with a focus on global clients.

According to data by Dewesoft, there are around 4,550 man-made satellites in Earth’s orbit. At least 50,000 satellites are expected to be launched in the next 10 years, the majority of which will be for the lower orbit, indicating the potential of Skyroot’s launch.

Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos plans a full-scale commercial launch of its rocket Agnibaan by April 2023.