Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Apr 25: India moved a step closer to a major private space milestone as Vikram-1, the country’s first privately developed orbital rocket, was flagged off from Hyderabad for Sriharikota ahead of its maiden launch attempt.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy flagged off the rocket, which is being transported to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre for final integration, system checks and launch preparations.

The rollout included the payload fairing, the structure designed to protect satellites during flight. Officials said pre-flight testing has been completed, while key propulsion stages have already reached the spaceport.

If successful, Vikram-1 will become India’s first privately built rocket to place satellites into orbit, marking a major step in the country’s expanding private space sector.

The mission is being cleared by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), with technical oversight from ISRO.

At Sriharikota, the vehicle will undergo final assembly and a series of system checks before a launch window is announced in the coming months.

Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-1 is a multi-stage launch vehicle designed to carry up to 350 kg of small satellites into low Earth orbit.

Built using carbon composite structures and powered by solid and liquid propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines, the rocket is aimed at the growing small satellite launch market.

The mission follows Skyroot’s 2022 suborbital Vikram-S launch and is seen as a significant milestone in India’s push to open its space sector to private players.