India marked a major milestone in its private space programme on Saturday after Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Skyroot Vikram-1 LIFTOFF from SDSC! pic.twitter.com/pcIXRfRXkZ
— Anshuman Mahapatra (@TitaniumSV5) July 18, 2026
The maiden mission, named Mission Aagaman, successfully completed its launch and deployed its payloads, with all four stages performing as planned on the first attempt. The achievement places India among a small group of countries where private companies have independently developed and launched orbital-class rockets.
The launch experienced a brief delay following an internal hold before liftoff, but the mission proceeded without further issues.
Standing nearly seven storeys tall, Vikram-1 is an all-carbon composite, multi-stage launch vehicle designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kilograms into Low Earth Orbit. The rocket is powered by propulsion systems developed in-house, including 3D-printed rocket engines and solid rocket motors.
The demonstration mission carried several technology payloads from Indian and international customers, along with Skyroot’s own experimental payload. It also included symbolic items to mark the occasion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Skyroot team on the successful maiden launch, describing it as an important step for India’s growing private space sector.
The mission is expected to provide valuable flight data to support further development of the Vikram launch vehicle family and help the company establish regular commercial launch services.
The successful launch is also seen as a significant outcome of India’s space sector reforms, which have enabled private companies to develop rockets, satellites and launch services alongside the national space programme.
Founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists, Skyroot Aerospace became the first Indian private company to launch a rocket into space in 2022 with the Vikram-S mission. The successful launch of Vikram-1 marks its entry into the orbital launch market.
