As Vikram-1 reaches orbit, Skyroot faces a steep climb to business success
Skyroot Aerospace has successfully launched its Vikram-1 rocket, marking India's first private orbital rocket launch. While the mission is a significant milestone, the company faces ongoing challenges in scaling production and competing in the global small-satellite market.
Why it matters
This represents a major shift in India's space sector, moving from state-led missions to a more commercialized, private-sector-driven model.
India had its first private orbital rocket launch at 12.05 p.m. on July 18. So far, all orbital rockets India had launched as part of its space programme had been state-funded and led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace changed that by launching its small-satellite launch vehicle Vikram-1 to a low-earth orbit. The mission has been dubbed ‘Aagaman’, Hindi for ‘arrival’.
Since 2020, the Indian government has opened the domestic space sector to private companies by creating institutions such as IN-SPACe and allowing private firms to build launch vehicles and use ISRO infrastructure. Thus far, worldwide, only a small number of private companies have successfully developed orbital launch vehicles, including SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace, and a clutch of Chinese firms. A similarly short list of others, including ABL Space Systems and Isar Aerospace, are still searching for success.
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