- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Skyroot Aerospace launches India's first private orbital rocket, Vikram-1.
- Vikram-1 features fully carbon-composite structure for efficiency.
- Carries unique payloads, including miniature gold rocket artifact.
India is set to witness a major milestone in its space journey as Hyderabad-based private space startup Skyroot Aerospace prepares to launch its first orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1. The mission, named “Mission Aagaman”, is expected to mark a new era for India’s private space industry.
The historic launch is scheduled for 11:30 am on Saturday from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, the rocket represents a major step towards private participation in orbital space missions.
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What Makes Vikram-1 Special?
One of the biggest highlights of Vikram-1 is its fully carbon-composite structure. According to Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana, it is the first orbital-class rocket made entirely using carbon composites.
The advanced material is around five times lighter than steel, helping reduce the overall weight of the rocket while improving efficiency and performance.
From a technical perspective, Vikram-1 features three solid-fuel stages along with a liquid orbital adjustment module. The rocket can carry payloads of up to 350 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of nearly 450 km above Earth.
What Will It Carry To Space
The mission is not just about placing satellites into orbit. Vikram-1 will also carry several unique payloads highlighting India’s scientific legacy.
An 18-carat gold miniature rocket artefact will be sent onboard, featuring engraved miniature statues of three legendary Indian scientists, CV Raman, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
The rocket will also carry technology demonstration payloads from Planeta Space, CosmoServe, deCubed, and Skyroot’s own ‘Scope’. Another special attraction onboard is the diamond artwork titled ‘Cosmic Bloom’.
Among the payloads on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 is something truly special—a handwritten postcard from Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi with the words, “Vande Mataram.” 🇮🇳🚀
— Skyroot Aerospace (@SkyrootA) July 17, 2026
It travels to space alongside handwritten messages from our team, investors, policymakers, and… pic.twitter.com/sJajN6NiVJ
Along with this, the rocket will take off with handwritten messages from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former ISRO chairman S Somanath, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, and other well-wishers of Skyroot Aerospace.
Final Preparations Completed Before Launch
According to Skyroot Aerospace’s control centre, the rocket has been fully integrated at the launch pad. The team has completed essential checks, including ground station interfaces, telemetry and tracking radar verification, and final vehicle assessments.
Skyroot co-founder and COO Naga Bharat Daka described the launch as a historic achievement for the company.
"We started Skyroot nearly eight years ago to build affordable, reliable, and on-demand rockets from India for the world. Today, years of hard work by our team are culminating in this historic milestone," Daka said.
Skyroot had earlier created history in 2022 by successfully launching Vikram-S, India’s first privately developed suborbital rocket, which reached an altitude of 89.5 km.
With Vikram-1, the company aims to take India’s private space sector a step further by entering the orbital launch segment.