Skyroot Aerospace has announced a July 12–August 4 launch window for the maiden test flight of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. The launch from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, is subject to final testing, weather, safety and range clearances.
Named Mission Aagaman, meaning “Arrival”, the flight will primarily gather critical in-flight data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance. The mission follows Skyroot’s successful Vikram-S suborbital flight in November 2022.
Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder and CEO, Skyroot Aerospace, said, “The single most important objective of Mission Aagaman is to capture real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. This will help validate our designs and inform subsequent vehicle development as we build a reliable, high-cadence commercial launch programme.”
Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder and COO, Skyroot Aerospace, said, “With Vikram-1, we take our biggest step yet towards a reliable, high-cadence launch programme built in India, for India and the world.”
The seven-storey-tall Vikram-1 can carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit. Its maiden mission will target an altitude of 450 km with a 60-degree orbital inclination.
