Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has welcomed the successful launch of India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1 Test Flight-1. The launch marks a significant milestone for the country’s space sector and showcases the growing strength of Indian science, technology, and entrepreneurship. The Vikram-1 rocket, developed by Hyderabad-based private space startup Skyroot Aerospace, successfully reached orbit and deployed its payloads into a 450 km orbit.
This achievement makes India only the third nation to achieve a successful private orbital launch capability. Khandu described the mission as a defining moment for the country’s space programme, highlighting India’s rapidly expanding capabilities in advanced technology and innovation. He expressed pride in the achievement, stating that the future of India’s space sector has truly lifted off.
The Vikram-1 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota under its maiden orbital mission, Mission Aagaman. The successful launch is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global commercial launch market and accelerate the growth of the country’s private space ecosystem, which has expanded following policy reforms in recent years. The mission is a result of reforms that opened the country’s space sector to private participation.
The successful launch is seen as a major milestone for India’s commercial space programme. The achievement is a testament to the growing capabilities of Indian science, technology, and entrepreneurship, and is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s space sector.
