Sriharikota: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes to the Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace team as India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, stands poised for its maiden test flight under Mission Aagaman today.
The lift-off is scheduled for 11:30 AM IST from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This mission marks a landmark moment — the first orbital launch of a rocket fully designed, developed, and manufactured by an Indian private company from Indian soil.
Vikram-1, named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme, is a four-stage, approximately 20-24 metre tall (seven-storey equivalent) vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure. It features indigenous propulsion systems, including solid-fuel stages (Kalam series) and a liquid upper stage with 3D-printed Raman engines for precise orbital adjustments. The rocket is engineered for rapid manufacturing and high launch cadence, capable of delivering small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Its maiden mission targets a 450 km orbit at a 60-degree inclination.
Mission Aagaman (Sanskrit for ‘arrival’) follows Skyroot’s successful suborbital Vikram-S flight in November 2022. The primary objective is to gather critical real-time in-flight data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control, and overall vehicle performance — data that cannot be fully replicated on the ground. This will validate designs and pave the way for reliable commercial operations.
In a social media post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the mission as a historic new chapter in India’s space journey. He highlighted that the four-stage rocket has been designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services.
“The mission reflects the talent, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of our country’s youth, while showcasing how India’s space sector reforms are unlocking new opportunities for innovation and enterprise,” the Prime Minister noted.
Mr. Modi extended his heartfelt best wishes to the entire Skyroot Aerospace team for a successful launch. He expressed hope that Vikram-1 soars high, creates history, and inspires a new generation of innovators. He urged citizens, particularly the youth, to follow the historic mission and join in wishing Team Skyroot success using the hashtag #IndiaWithVikram1.
The flight-ready rocket was earlier unveiled by PM Modi in November 2025 during the inauguration of Skyroot’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad. The mission carries a mix of payloads, including technology demonstrators from Indian and international partners such as Grahaa Space (SOLARAS CubeSat), Cosmoserve Space (Embrace robotic arm), DCubed (Germany), and unique cultural payloads like micro-sculptures honouring Indian scientists and a diamond-inspired artwork.
This launch underscores the growing momentum in India’s private space sector, bolstered by government reforms and collaboration with ISRO and IN-SPACe. Skyroot aims to achieve commercial launches with Vikram-1 by 2027, contributing to India’s ambition of becoming a global player in responsive and cost-effective space access.
