A Historic Launch
On 18th July 2026, a privately owned Indian aerospace
company called Skyroot successfully launched its first ever rocket named the Vikram-1
into orbit marking a major milestone in the Indian space industry. The launch
took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota as part of
Mission Aagaman with the rocket travelling at an altitude of 280 miles (450km)
to reach Low Earth Orbit. Vikram-1 specifically aimed to send smaller
satellites into orbit without compromising launch schedules or waiting for
space on larger orbital vehicles. Vikram-1 carried multiple payloads which included Skyroot's
SCOPE satellite, DCUBED's technology demonstration payload, Grahaa
Space's SOLARAS S3 satellite, and Cosmoserve Space's Embrace, a robotic
arm designed to capture orbital debris. Vikram-1 also carried two symbolic payloads which were Cosmic
Bloom, a lotus-shaped artwork made from lab-grown diamonds and an 18-karat
gold micro-rocket. The micro-rocket features microscopic sculptures of C.
V. Raman, Vikram Sarabhai and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, paying tribute to India's
pioneering scientists.
Figure 1: Vikram-1
on the launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. 18 July 2026. Image: ISRO
The Technology Powering
Vikram-1
Vikram-1 is a 22 metre tall, 4 stage orbital launch
vehicle designed to carry payloads of 350kg into low earth orbit. The rocket
combines solid fuel stages with a liquid fuel upper stage, incorporating
advanced manufacturing techniques including 3D printed engine components and an
all carbon composite structure. The image below shows the KALAM 1200 motor
which completed its first static test for the first stage of the Vikram-1. The
motor is an 11m long, 1.7m dia monolithic composite motor with a propellant mass
of 30t. These technologies have helped Skyroot develop a lighter and more
flexible launch system aimed at meeting the growing demand for small satellite
missions.
Figure 2: Static
test of the KALAM 1200 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. 8 August 2025. Image:
ISRO
A Major Milestone
for India's Private Space Sector
The mission represents an important milestone for both
Indian engineering and the country's emerging private space sector, as it makes
India just the third country with private orbital launch capabilities. Until
recently, India's orbital launches were led primarily by the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO). Skyroot's achievement proves how private
companies can now contribute alongside national space agencies like ISRO by
developing rockets therefore creating more highly skilled engineering jobs and
increasing access to the space industry for universities, researchers and other
companies.
Figure 3: Vikram-1
lifts off on its first attempt. 18 July 2026. Image: Skyroot Aerospace Webcast
From Vikram-S to
Vikram-1: A Story of Collaboration
The success of Vikram-1 also highlights the value of
collaboration between established public institutions and emerging engineering
businesses. Skyroot was founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers and previously
launched Vikram-S, India's first privately developed rocket on a suborbital
mission in 2022. The progression from Vikram-S to a successful orbital launch
with Vikram-1 shows how testing, iteration and teamwork can transform an
ambitious concept into a working space system.
What This Means for
Aspiring Engineers
For young and aspiring engineers, the launch of Vikram-1
is a reminder that the future of space exploration will not be shaped by
government agencies only. Engineers working with electronics, propulsion,
software, materials, communications and manufacturing will all play a role in
making satellite launches more accessible and sustainable. Skyroot's
achievement marks not only the arrival of a new rocket but the beginning of a
wider transformation in India's space industry.
Skyroot’s journey from being a small private startup
to launching Vikram-1 into Low Earth Orbit on its first attempt is a reminder
that engineering knows no borders and that is exactly what Beyond Borders is
here to show you.
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