Sriharikota, 18 July (H.S.): India is set to mark a historic milestone in its space journey on Friday as Hyderabad-based private space company Skyroot Aerospace prepares to launch its indigenously developed orbital rocket under Mission Agaman. The launch of the Vikram-1 rocket is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The mission represents the first attempt by an Indian private company to place satellites into Earth's orbit using a launch vehicle designed and developed entirely in-house. The Vikram-1 rocket has been named in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space programme.

Vikram-1 is a 24-metre-tall orbital-class launch vehicle designed specifically for launching small satellites. The rocket is built entirely using lightweight carbon-composite structures, making it significantly lighter while improving payload efficiency. According to Skyroot Aerospace, carbon fibre is nearly five times lighter than the strongest grades of steel, enhancing the rocket's overall performance.

The launch vehicle features three solid-propulsion stages along with an Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM) mounted at the top. According to the company, the OAM will enable the deployment of multiple satellites into different orbital positions during the mission.

Vikram-1 has been designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kilograms into a 450-kilometre Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The rocket incorporates several advanced technologies being used in India for the first time.

All of its liquid engines are manufactured using advanced metal 3D-printing technology. These 3D-printed engines replace what previously required hundreds of individual components with a single integrated engine, significantly reducing manufacturing time while improving efficiency. Skyroot has also developed its own reusable pneumatic stage separation system, which has undergone successful testing.

Mission Agaman will carry multiple payloads, including Diamond Lotus, developed at the Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds laboratory.

According to Skyroot Aerospace, the mission will also carry a unique piece of micro-art created by artist Ajay Kumar Mattewada. The artwork features a miniature 18-carat gold rocket containing microscopic sculptures of three of India's most celebrated scientists—Sir C. V. Raman, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Each sculpture is smaller than a single grain of rice. The mission will also carry a handwritten postcard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words Vande Mataram.

Until now, India's satellite launches into orbit have primarily been carried out using launch vehicles developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Founded in 2018, Skyroot Aerospace successfully tested its first privately developed sub-orbital rocket, Vikram-S, on November 18, 2022. The rocket reached an altitude of approximately 88.8 kilometres before successfully completing its planned mission profile and splashing down in the Bay of Bengal.

The company has stated that its immediate priority is to establish Vikram-1 as a reliable and commercially viable orbital launch vehicle.

India's Space Policy 2023 opened the country's space sector to greater private participation, creating new opportunities for private enterprises. As part of this initiative, the government launched the IN-SPACe Seed Fund Scheme to provide early-stage financial support to emerging space startups.

In 2024, the approval process for private participation in space activities was further streamlined and made more transparent. The government also established a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund to facilitate investment in space startups.

According to the Central Government, India had only one registered space startup in 2014. By February 2026, that number had grown to more than 400. Indian space startups have collectively attracted investments exceeding 500 million US dollars, including nearly 150 million US dollars during 2025 alone. Companies such as Pixxel, Dhruva Space, Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and Bellatrix Aerospace have emerged as pioneers of India's rapidly expanding private space ecosystem.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar