India Launches First Private Orbital Rocket

India successfully launched its first privately developed orbital rocket on Saturday, marking a major milestone in the country's expanding commercial space industry.

The Vikram-1 rocket, developed by Skyroot Aerospace, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh on a mission named "Mission Aagaman." The launch makes India the third country, after the US and China, to achieve a privately built orbital rocket launch.

Standing 22 meters tall, Vikram-1 is capable of carrying payloads of up to 350 kilograms into low-Earth orbit. The mission carried experimental payloads from Indian and international customers, including a lab-grown diamond and robotic technology designed for space debris removal.

Skyroot Aerospace said the test flight successfully validated the rocket's propulsion, avionics, telemetry and guidance systems, providing critical data ahead of future commercial launches. The company confirmed that additional test missions will be conducted before regular commercial operations begin.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the launch as a landmark achievement for the nation's space program, saying the growing role of private companies is driving innovation and inspiring the next generation of space entrepreneurs.

The launch underscores India's rapid emergence as a global space power, fuelled by increased investment and the growth of more than 400 space technology startups since the COVID-19 pandemic.