India achieved a historic milestone in its space journey as Vikram-1, the country's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, successfully reached orbit under Mission Aagaman. The rocket lifted off at 12:05 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, and completed its final burn before injecting its payloads into a 450-kilometre Low Earth Orbit.
Developed by Hyderabad-based aerospace startup Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-1 is designed to provide cost-effective and flexible launch services for small satellites. Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space programme, the launch vehicle features three solid-propellant stages and a liquid-fuelled Raman engine in its orbital adjustment module, enabling precise orbital insertion and manoeuvring.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Skyroot team on the successful mission, describing it as a historic achievement for India's private space sector. He also spoke to the team over the phone and invited them to meet him. Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh also hailed the successful launch.
The successful orbital mission marks a major milestone for India's commercial space industry and reflects the growing role of private companies following reforms that opened the country's space sector to non-government players. With Vikram-1's success, India has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its position in the global space economy.
