India’s space programme is no longer exclusively controlled by the state. Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has opened a new commercial era by becoming the first private Indian company to place a domestically developed rocket into orbit.
Founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot first made history with Vikram-S in November 2022—India’s first privately built rocket launch. Its decisive breakthrough came on 18 July 2026, when Vikram-1 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Mission Aagaman reached an orbit of around 450 kilometres carrying commercial and experimental payloads.
Built for the expanding small-satellite market, the 22-metre rocket combines carbon-composite structures, solid-fuel stages and a restartable liquid upper module. It can carry approximately 350 kilograms into low-Earth orbit and deploy several satellites during one mission.
“Built for the expanding small-satellite market, the 22-metre rocket combines carbon-composite structures, solid-fuel stages and a restartable liquid upper module.”
EuroAsia.News Editorial, reporting from Hyderabad
Skyroot’s rise reflects India’s 2020 decision to open its space infrastructure to private companies. ISRO and IN-SPACe provided testing facilities, authorisation and launch support, while private investment accelerated development.
India aims to expand its space economy from about $8 billion to $44 billion by 2033. Skyroot demonstrates how that goal could be achieved: by transforming decades of public expertise into a competitive commercial launch industry serving customers worldwide. ISRO · Skyroot
