Despite 35 minute delay Vikram-1 keeps date with Indian space history with Mission Aagaman success
Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched its Vikram-1 rocket from Sriharikota, marking India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket mission. The successful flight, dubbed Mission Aagaman, placed payloads into low Earth orbit and was acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Why it matters
This mission signals a major shift in the Indian space sector, transitioning from state-led operations to a competitive commercial space industry.
SRIHARIKOTA: After some anxious moments when the automatic launch sequence of Vikram-1 was halted midway at just five minutes before lift-off, Skyroot Aerospace finally created history after it successfully placed India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket into space.The seven-storey tall Vikram-1 rocket, with a lift-off weight of 45,000 kg, blasted off at 12.05 pm, a good 35 minutes behind the originally scheduled time, from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre-Sriharikota Range on its maiden orbital test flight, Mission Aagaman.The vehicle completed its planned flight sequence and placed its payloads into the targeted low Earth orbit, validating key systems developed by the Hyderabad-based startup.Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke personally with the Skyroot founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka on phone and congratulated the duo on the successful completion of Mission Aagaman.The PM, who sent a postcard into space abroad Vikram-1 with Vande Mataram written on…
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