Hyderabad
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday congratulated Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace for the successful launch of Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket, under Mission Aagaman, calling it a significant step forward in India’s space ecosystem.
In a post on X, Reddy said, “Congratulations to Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch of Vikram-1, a landmark achievement as India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. This milestone reflects the extraordinary capabilities of our scientists, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.” “This marks a significant step forward in India’s space ecosystem. Wishing the entire team continued success as they inspire a new era of innovation and technological excellence for our nation,” he added.
With the successful launch of Vikram-1, India scripted a historic chapter in its space journey, becoming the only third nation after the United States and China to have a private company capable of launching a rocket into orbit. The landmark mission lifted off from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking a major milestone for India’s rapidly expanding private space sector.
“LIFT-OFF! Vikram-1 has left the pad at Sriharikota. India’s first privately developed orbital rocket is flying. History is being made,” Skyroot Aerospace said in a post on social media platform X. “Safe tower clearance. At T+10 seconds, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has cleared the launch tower,” it added. Named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, the four-stage Vikram-1 launch vehicle is designed to provide rapid and on-demand launch services for small satellites.
The mission is also expected to strengthen India’s position in the global commercial launch market. The seven-storey rocket is headed for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 450 km. With the successful launch, India joined an exclusive group of nations where private companies have demonstrated orbital launch capability.