Skyroot Aerospace Set to Launch India's First Private Orbital Rocket Vikram-1 on July 18

Indian space-tech startup Skyroot Aerospace is preparing to launch its indigenously developed rocket, Vikram-1, on Saturday, July 18, at 11:30 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission, named 'Aagaman' (meaning 'arrival'), represents a significant milestone for India's private space sector as it aims to be the nation's first entirely privately developed launch vehicle to place a payload into orbit.

According to the company, all necessary airspace and maritime notices have been issued, establishing restricted zones during the launch window to ensure safety.

“We have done everything that could be done to test Vikram-1 on the ground. On July 18, we are eager to see how Vikram-1 performs in a real flight environment for the first time,” said Pawan Kumar Chandna, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace.

Vikram-1 is a three-stage solid-fuelled rocket capable of carrying small satellites of up to 480 kg to low Earth orbit. The launch will test the vehicle's performance in flight, including stage separation, ignition, and payload deployment. If successful, it will mark India's entry into the global commercial small satellite launch market with a private vehicle.

Skyroot Aerospace, founded in 2018 by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists, has previously conducted successful test flights of suborbital rockets. The company has raised funding from domestic and international investors, positioning itself as a key player in the growing Indian space ecosystem.