Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), July 18, 2026, BNN Web Staff: India marked a major milestone in its space journey on Saturday as Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Named Mission Aagaman, the launch marks the first time an Indian private company has placed an orbital-class launch vehicle into flight, signalling a new chapter for the country’s rapidly expanding commercial space sector.
The 24-metre-tall Vikram-1 rocket has been built using lightweight carbon-composite materials and features three solid-fuel stages along with a liquid-fuel orbital adjustment module. It is designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kg into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO), enabling quicker and more flexible satellite launch services.
One of the key payloads aboard the maiden mission is “Diamond Lotus,” a laboratory-grown diamond developed by Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds, showcasing the growing commercial potential of India’s private space ecosystem.
Adding a symbolic touch to the mission, the rocket also carried a handwritten postcard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words “Vande Mataram.” The spacecraft also transported handwritten messages from Skyroot employees, investors, policymakers and supporters from around the world, turning the launch into a tribute to India’s scientific and entrepreneurial aspirations.
Ahead of the launch, Prime Minister Modi congratulated the Skyroot Aerospace team and described the mission as a landmark achievement for India’s space programme.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the successful launch of Vikram-1 opens a “historic new frontier” in India’s space journey and reflects the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of the country’s youth.
He noted that reforms introduced in India’s space sector have created new opportunities for innovation, private participation and enterprise, while expressing confidence that the mission would inspire the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs.
Vikram-1 is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global commercial launch market by offering rapid, cost-effective and on-demand access to space for satellite operators.
