In a landmark development, Vikram -S, India’s first privately developed rocket successfully lifted off from Sriharikota on Saturday. This marks the entry of the private sector into the space industry in India.
Developed by Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace, the rocket carried three customer payloads. Of the three, two payloads are for domestic clients, and one foreign. The domestic clients are SpaceKidz India and N-Space Tech India while the third, BazoomQ Space Research Lab, is based in Armenia.
Named Praramb, the mission was supported by the national space agency ISRO. “Mission Prarambh is successfully accomplished. Congratulations” ISRO announced on Twitter.
“We made history today by launching India’s first private rocket. It is a symbol of new India, and just the Prarambh of a great future.” Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder Skyroot Aerospace, said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who was at Sriharikota to witness the launch, said this is a turning point for Indian startups. In his very first reaction he said , “Congratulations India! A new beginning in India’s Space journey ! Thanks so very much PM Narendra Modi ji for making this effort possible by opening the Space sector to public-private-participation. A turning point for India’s Start-Up movement! Kudos ISRO for a new feather in your much decorated hat”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IN-SPACe for the successful launch of India’s maiden private rocket Vikram-Suborbital developed by Skyroot Aerospace. In a series of tweets, he said;
“A historic moment for India as the rocket Vikram-S, developed by Skyroot Aerospace, took off from Sriharikota today! It is an important milestone in the journey of India’s private space industry. Congrats to @isro & @INSPACeIND for enabling this feat.”
“This accomplishment bears testimony to the immense talent of our youth, who took full advantage of the landmark space sector reforms of June 2020.” The launch of the rocket is expected to demonstrate flight proving of avionics systems in Vikram series like telemetry, tracking, inertial measurement, Global Positioning System, on-board camera, data acquisition and power systems.
Vikram S is also one of the world’s first few all-composite rockets that has 3-D printed solid thrusters for spin stability of the launch vehicle, Skyroot spokesperson said recently. The launch vehicle is also equipped with telemetry, tracking, GPS, on-board camera, data acquisition and power systems.
