India Creates History As Skyroot Aerospace Launches Vikram-1 Into Orbit

India achieved a historic milestone in its space journey on Saturday as Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket, under Mission Aagaman.

The achievement also makes India only the third nation after the United States and China to have a private company capable of launching a rocket into orbit.

The landmark mission lifted off from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking a major breakthrough for India’s rapidly expanding private space sector.

Skyroot Aerospace announced the successful lift-off of Vikram-1 from Sriharikota and confirmed that the rocket safely cleared the launch tower within seconds.

Safe tower clearance. At T+10 seconds, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has cleared the launch tower. 🚀 #Vikram1

— Skyroot Aerospace (@SkyrootA) July 18, 2026

Skyroot Aerospace named the four-stage rocket Vikram-1 after Dr Vikram Sarabhai and designed it to provide on-demand launches for small satellites.

The rocket is heading to a 450-km Low Earth Orbit and will further strengthen India’s commercial space launch capabilities.

Skyroot Aerospace has outlined its long-term vision of offering a ‘cab service to space’, allowing customers to book dedicated launches for satellites and future space missions with greater flexibility, speed and cost efficiency.

Mission Aagaman is Skyroot’s second mission after the successful Vikram-S launch in 2022, India’s first privately developed rocket to reach space.

Ahead of the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the mission ‘a historic new frontier for India’s space journey’ and wished the Skyroot Aerospace team success. He said the mission reflected the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of India’s youth while showcasing how the country’s space sector reforms are creating new opportunities for innovation, enterprise and private participation.