India Enters Private Space Launch Club

Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched India’s first private orbital rocket from the Sriharikota space center in India. The Vikram-1 rocket carried a payload to a 450 kilometer orbit approximately 15 minutes after launch. This makes India the third country to achieve orbital launch capability through a private company.

The 22-meter tall Vikram-1 can carry a payload of up to 350 kilograms. The inaugural payload included robotic arms for removing space debris, a lab-grown diamond, and a miniature golden rocket depicting Indian physicists and engineers.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as a pivotal moment, noting the increasing involvement of the private sector in space innovation. Skyroot Aerospace plans to conduct further test flights before commencing regular commercial launches. India’s space sector, currently valued at $8.4 billion, has rapidly expanded since opening to private companies in 2020, now hosting over 400 startups.