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Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Orbital Rocket
Vikram-1 is in news as India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, prepares for its maiden test flight named Mission Aagaman ("the arrival"). Mission Aagaman is scheduled for a launch window between July 12 and August 4, 2026, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, and carries domestic and international payloads.
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Orbital Rocket:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Vikram-1 is developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace. |
| Classification | Vikram-1 is India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. |
| Maiden test flight | The maiden test flight is named Mission Aagaman ("the arrival"). |
| Launch window | Mission Aagaman has a launch window set between July 12 and August 4, 2026. |
| Launch site | The launch site is Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. |
| Flight type and payloads | Mission Aagaman provides for a partially commercial flight carrying domestic and international payloads. |
| Target orbit parameters | Mission Aagaman targets a 450 km altitude orbit at a 60-degree inclination. |
| Primary objective | The mission provides for gathering real-time in-flight performance data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, and navigation to validate designs for future high-cadence commercial operations. |
| Structure and build | Vikram-1 comprises a 7-storey-tall, multi-stage vehicle with an all-carbon composite structure engineered for rapid manufacturing. |
| Propulsion systems | Vikram-1 is powered by in-house solid and liquid propulsion systems, utilising advanced 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters. |
| Payload capacity and orbit | Vikram-1 is designed to deploy small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). |
| Avionics and control | Vikram-1 operates autonomously via onboard intelligence with no pilot or manual joystick controls. |
| Related reference flight | Vikram-S is the first private rocket to reach space from Indian soil, and this occurs in 2022. |