Skyroot Aerospace’s Historic Orbital Launch

On Saturday, 18 July 2026, Skyroot Aerospace lifted off the Vikram‑1 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 06:35 GMT, marking the first orbital launch of a privately developed rocket in India. The mission, dubbed “Mission Aagaman,” carried a mix of experimental and commercial payloads, including technology‑demonstration satellites, supplied by Indian and international organisations.

The Vikram‑1 vehicle stands approximately 22 metres tall and employs three solid‑fuel stages. It also features a liquid‑fuel orbital adjustment module powered by a 3D‑printed engine. Designed to place up to 350 kilograms into low‑Earth orbit, the rocket’s flight data will be used to validate its propulsion, avionics, telemetry, guidance, navigation, and control systems.

Skyroot, a Hyderabad‑based startup founded in 2018, has attracted international investment since India opened its space sector to private participation in 2020. Earlier in the year, the company became the first Indian space‑sector firm to achieve a $1 billion valuation. The launch follows the 2022 Vikram‑S sub‑orbital flight, which was the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach space.

The Indian government aims to expand the nation’s share of the global space economy from roughly $8 billion today to $44 billion by 2033, encouraging private players like Skyroot to compete with established providers such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab USA. Skyroot indicated that several additional test missions are planned before it commences routine commercial launch services.

Key Facts

  • Rocket: Vikram‑1, 22 m tall, three solid‑fuel stages + liquid‑fuel adjustment module (3D‑printed engine).
  • Payload capacity: up to 350 kg to low‑Earth orbit.
  • Launch time: 06:35 GMT, 18 July 2026.
  • Mission name: “Mission Aagaman.”
  • Payloads: experimental and commercial satellites from Indian and international entities.
  • Company valuation: $1 billion (achieved earlier 2026).
  • Strategic context: India’s space sector liberalised in 2020; target to grow space economy to $44 bn by 2033.
  • Competitive landscape: SpaceX and Rocket Lab USA are noted as major players in the small‑satellite launch market.