Skyroot's Vikram-1 becomes India's first privately developed rocket to reach orbit
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, reached Low Earth Orbit from Sriharikota on 18 July 2026 under Mission Aagaman.
Summary
Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 18 July 2026 under Mission Aagaman, placing it into its designated Low Earth Orbit. With the launch, Skyroot became the first Indian private company to achieve an orbital launch from Indian soil; Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh witnessed the launch and congratulated founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Bharath Daka. Vikram-1 can place 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit and uses an all-carbon composite structure, solid-fuel boosters and a 3D-printed liquid engine. The government backgrounder notes that India's space start-ups grew from one in 2014 to over 400 in 2026 and that the Indian Space Policy 2023 opened the full space value chain to private players.
Key facts
- Launch date
- 18 July 2026
- Mission
- Mission Aagaman
- Vehicle
- Vikram-1 (Skyroot Aerospace)
- Launch site
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
- Capacity
- 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit
- Technology
- All-carbon composite structure, solid-fuel boosters, 3D-printed liquid engine
- Founders
- Pawan Kumar Chandana and Bharath Daka
- Space start-ups
- 1 in 2014 to 400+ in 2026
- Space economy
- About USD 8.4 billion; target USD 40–45 billion by 2030, USD 100 billion by 2040
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle that reached orbit on 18 July 2026, was built by which company?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Skyroot Aerospace
Vikram-1 was developed by Skyroot Aerospace and launched under Mission Aagaman.
Under which mission name was Skyroot's Vikram-1 launched on 18 July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Mission Aagaman
The Vikram-1 orbital launch was called Mission Aagaman.
How much payload can Vikram-1 place into Low Earth Orbit, as per the government backgrounder?
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Correct answer: D — 350 kg
The backgrounder says Vikram-1 can place 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit.
Consider the following statements about Vikram-1: 1. Vikram-1 has an all-carbon composite structure and a 3D-printed liquid engine. 2. Vikram-1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. 3. Vikram-1 uses only liquid-fuel stages, with no solid boosters. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Vikram-1 uses solid-fuel boosters along with a 3D-printed liquid engine.