India’s first private orbital rocket Skyroot’s Vikram-1 set for debut flight between July 12 and August 4

Skyroot Aerospace has announced the launch window for the maiden test flight of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, from Sriharikota between July 12 and August 4. The mission, named Aagaman, aims to capture in-flight performance data and marks a significant milestone for India’s private space sector.

Hyderabad: Skyroot Aerospace on Thursday announced the opening of the launch window for the maiden test flight of its Vikram-1 launch vehicle, which is a privately developed orbital-class rocket. 

The Test Flight-1 is targeted for no earlier than July 12, subject to the completion of assembly and testing operations at the launch site in SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, and weather, safety, and range clearance. The window extends until 4th August.

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Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Vikram-1’s maiden mission will target an orbit at an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree orbital inclination.

All stages of Skyroot’s Vikram-1 have been successfully integrated and stacked at the launch pad. The mission will gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance.

Mission Aagaman, meaning “the arrival”, marks Skyroot’s second mission following the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, the first private rocket to reach space from Indian soil, on November 18, 2022. 

This will be partially commercial flight, with the company planning to commence full commercial flights after one or two successful demonstrations to orbit.

“The single most important objective of Mission Aagaman is to capture the real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. We want to understand how the vehicle performs from lift-off through every phase of ascent. This data cannot be fully replicated through ground testing,” Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace said in a press release.

“This mission is designed as both a technology demonstration and a learning mission. This has been made possible by the collective confidence of the Central Government, IN-SPACe, ISRO, our investors, our customers and a dedicated team,” Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder & COO, Skyroot Aerospace said.