Hyderabad: The country’s private space research company Skyroot Aerospace is going to test launch its first orbital launch vehicle Vikram-1 on July 18. The ambitious mission named ‘Mission Aagaman’ is being considered a milestone for India’s private space industry, as it will be the first flight of an orbital rocket Kiru developed by a private company from Indian soil. The launch is proposed at 11:30 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota.
Vikram-1, about seven storeys high, is a three-stage (multi-stage) orbital launch vehicle. It has been developed with a completely carbon-composite structure. It uses 3D-printed rocket engines, high-capacity solid-fuel boosters and advanced propulsion systems developed by Skyroot.
The main objective of the mission is to test the rocket’s flight capability, propulsion system, guidance, navigation and other critical technologies under real conditions. This flight will lay the groundwork for future commercial satellite launches.
Vikram-1 is designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Its first flight will aim to reach an orbit of about 450 kilometers altitude and 60 degrees inclination. This mission will also include several technology demonstration payloads.
Skyroot was founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharat Daka. The company had created history with the successful sub-orbital launch of Vikram-S in November 2022. Now through Vikram-1, the company is going to take the next big step towards making India a strong contender in the global small satellite launch market.
Headlines
Date: 18 July 2026
Time: 11:30 am
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota
Mission Name: Arrival
Rocket: Vikram-1
Capacity: Capable of placing small satellites up to 350 kg in LEO
Significance: First launch attempt of an orbital rocket developed by an Indian private company.
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