Hyderabad, Apr 27: Skyroot Aerospace marked a historic milestone as its flagship launch vehicle, Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, was ceremonially flagged off from its Max-Q campus in Hyderabad. The event was led by A. Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, in the presence of D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs.
The ceremony signified the rocket’s formal departure to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, where final integration and launch operations will take place. As part of the event, the Chief Minister flagged off the space-ready payload fairing, a critical structure designed to protect satellites during flight.
Addressing Skyroot employees and stakeholders, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy highlighted the milestone as a significant step in Telangana’s ambition to emerge as a global aerospace hub. He emphasized the government’s focus on skill development through collaborations with global universities and industry leaders, alongside strong policy support, infrastructure, and a thriving innovation ecosystem.
The flag-off also marks the completion of Vikram-1’s pre-flight testing program at Skyroot’s facilities, with its propulsion stages already positioned at the Sriharikota spaceport.
Speaking on the occasion, Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, said,
“We are honoured to have the Hon’ble Chief Minister flag off Vikram-1 to the spaceport. This launch represents a major milestone for India’s private space-tech industry. With Vikram-1, we aim to enable on-demand satellite launches for a rapidly growing global market.”
Echoing this sentiment, Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder and COO, added,
“We have completed the most critical testing phase and are excited to begin integration and launch campaign activities at the spaceport as we move toward this historic launch.”
The Vikram-1 launch is expected in the coming months following final integration at Sriharikota. The mission will mark India’s first private attempt at an orbital launch, positioning Skyroot Aerospace among a select group of global players in the commercial launch market.
Vikram-1 is a multistage orbital launch vehicle capable of deploying small satellites of up to 350 kg into low Earth orbit. Standing approximately seven storeys tall, the rocket features an all-carbon composite structure and is powered by advanced in-house propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid rocket boosters.
The launch will be conducted under the authorization of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center, with technical oversight from Indian Space Research Organisation.
With multiple Vikram-1 missions planned, Skyroot Aerospace is set to advance toward regular commercial launch operations, enabling cost-effective and responsive access to space for satellite operators worldwide.
