India’s first private rocket, built by startup Skyroot, makes successful launch

The private sector of the nation's space industry has been boosted by the launch of the Vikram-S.

The suborbital rocket was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization.

The Vikram-S is a single-stage, spin-stabilized solid propellant rocket with a mass of over 500 grams. The customer from outside India is one of the customers that it carries. The 6-meter long rocket was developed in two years.

Sky root is an image

Sky root's first demonstration mission is called Prarambh, which means the beginning in Sanskrit. The founder of India's space program is the subject of a series of launch vehicles being built by the startup.

The Indian government established the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center to allow private companies to use the infrastructure of the Indian Space Research Organization. NewSpace India is the space agency's commercial arm and works closely with private companies and startup to bolster space developments in the country.

I am pleased to announce the successful completion of mission Prarambh. The rocket took off at an altitude of 88.6 kilometers and a range of 121.2 kilometers, exactly what was planned by Skyroot. After the successful launch, the chairperson of IN-SPACe, Department of Space, said, "All systems, as I can make out, worked as planned."

Skyroot was founded in December of 2020 and tested India's privately made solid rocket stage in December of 2020. It was the first startup in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Space Research Organization.

The startup has raised $68 million in total, including $51 million in a Series B round, and has a valuation of $165 million.

According to the data shared by Indian Space Association, Indian space startups have raised over $245.35 million, where $108 million were infused in just one year. Skyroot is counted as one of the founding members of the association.

A new space policy is being worked on by the government to encourage investment in the space sector.

The space policy will address some issues raised by the industry, including a single sanction window and spectrum allocation for satellite-based communication services through the Department of Telecommunications, according to the Director General of I SpA.

Foreign direct investment policy and incentives on taxes, import duties and domestic manufacturing of space equipment are yet to be addressed by the government.

Skyroot is very excited to announce that they successfully launched India's first privately developed rocket. The Prarambh mission is the beginning of a new era in India's space program. The successful mission was dedicated to Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, who started the Indian space program in the 1960s, and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who unlocked the space sector to the private players. We would like to thank InSPACe and the dynamic leadership who made this mission possible.