India Private Space Startup Captures Sunrise from Rocket After Launch Delay

Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian private space company, has released footage showing the first sunrise captured from its Vikram-1 rocket in orbit. The video, taken by an onboard camera, shows sunlight emerging behind the rocket's Orbital Adjustment Module, framed by a diamond-shaped structure on the spacecraft.

The striking visual effect occurred because of an unexpected delay before liftoff on July 18. The launch of Mission Aagaman was held for 35 minutes and 30 seconds, shifting the liftoff time to 12:05:30 pm. This delay altered the spacecraft's position relative to the Sun, creating a rare viewing angle that would not have occurred under the original schedule.

Skyroot co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana explained on social media platform X that the perfect alignment was unintended. 'Some moments can't be engineered. That perfect sun angle happened only because of the launch hold — we lifted off 35 minutes and 30 seconds later than planned, at 12:05:30. Sometimes, the universe adds its own touch. This will be one of the most beautiful footages ever captured from space,' he wrote.

Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. The Hyderabad-based startup focuses on developing affordable and responsive launch vehicles for small satellites. In 2022, it became the first Indian private company to launch a rocket into space with Vikram-S, a suborbital demonstrator mission.

Vikram-1 is Skyroot's first orbital launch vehicle, designed to place small satellites into low-Earth orbit. It successfully completed its maiden orbital test flight on July 18 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The three-stage rocket incorporates carbon-composite structures, 3D-printed engines, and a modular design to reduce launch costs and turnaround times. It aims to provide commercial launch services for customers in India and abroad.