Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace announced on July 2 that it is preparing to launch its Vikram-1 rocket, the first attempt by an Indian private company to place a satellite into orbit. Founded by former engineers from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Skyroot is developing small rockets similar to those by Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace.
The Vikram-1 is a seven-stories-tall, multi-stage launch vehicle designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit. Skyroot, which became India's first space startup to reach a $1 billion valuation after raising $60 million from GIC and Sherpalo Ventures in May, has scheduled the maiden flight from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre within a launch window from July 12 to August 4.
The test flight will carry a mix of domestic and international customers and primarily aims to collect in-flight performance data on propulsion, guidance, and stage separation systems, according to the company.
This launch comes as India opens its traditionally state-dominated space sector to private companies, aiming to capture a larger share of the global satellite launch market. Industrial groups such as Larsen & Toubro and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are also entering rocket manufacturing as the government pushes to build a $44 billion space economy by 2033.
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