18 July,2026 01:21 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The mission made history as the first privately built rocket to reach space. Pic/ PTI
India scripted a historic chapter in its space journey on Saturday as Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, under Mission Aagaman, reported IANS.
With the successful launch, India became only the third nation after the United States and China to have a private company capable of sending a rocket into orbit.
The landmark mission lifted off from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking a major milestone for India's growing private space sector.
"LIFT-OFF! Vikram-1 has left the pad at Sriharikota. India's first privately developed orbital rocket is flying. History is being made," Skyroot Aerospace said in a post on social media platform X.
"Safe tower clearance. At T+10 seconds, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has cleared the launch tower," the company added, reported IANS.
Named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space programme, the four-stage Vikram-1 launch vehicle is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services for small satellites.
The seven-storey rocket is headed towards a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of around 450 km and is expected to strengthen India's position in the global commercial launch market.
Skyroot Aerospace has described its long-term vision as offering a "cab service to space", allowing customers to book dedicated launches to place satellites into specific orbits with greater flexibility and speed.
Mission Aagaman marks Skyroot's second space mission after the successful launch of the Vikram-S suborbital rocket under Operation Prarambh in November 2022.
The mission made history as the first privately built rocket to reach space from Indian soil and helped pave the way for India's private launch ecosystem.
Ahead of the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the mission "a historic new frontier for India's space journey" and extended his wishes to the Skyroot Aerospace team, reported IANS.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the mission reflected the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of India's youth while highlighting how space sector reforms are creating new opportunities for innovation and enterprise.
(With IANS inputs)
