Launcher
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Breaks ISRO's launch monopoly and gives Indian and regional smallsat makers a dedicated home launcher.
Vikram-1 is a four-stage small satellite launcher built by Skyroot Aerospace of Hyderabad, India's first privately developed rocket to reach orbit. Skyroot was founded on 12 June 2018 by two former ISRO engineers, Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, and started in the T-Hub incubator. India's 2020 reforms and 2023 space policy gave private firms access to ISRO launch pads, test stands and other facilities.
Design: three solid stages (Kalam-1200, Kalam-250 and Kalam-100) and a liquid fourth stage, the orbit adjustment module, with four Raman-1 engines burning monomethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. The structure is all carbon composite and the upper-stage engine is 3D-printed. Capacity is quoted as 350 kg to low Earth orbit by Skyroot's recent releases; other sources give 480 kg to a 500 km, 45° orbit and 290 kg to sun-synchronous orbit.
Key dates: first solid-motor demonstrator (Kalam-5) fired at Solar Industries, Nagpur, December 2020; Kalam-100 full-duration test 5 May 2022, also at Solar's facility; suborbital Vikram-S flight (mission Prarambh) to about 89.5 km, 18 November 2022; Raman-1 qualification at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, June 2023; Kalam-250 test March 2024; Kalam-1200 first-stage static test at Sriharikota, 8 August 2025. Prime Minister Modi opened Skyroot's Infinity Campus in Hyderabad on 27 November 2025, designed to build one orbital rocket a month.
Setbacks: Skyroot had aimed for a first launch in January 2026; it flew in July 2026. No failures have been reported in the flight programme.
Status (2026): Skyroot raised about US$60 million in May 2026, co-led by GIC and Sherpalo Ventures, at a valuation of about US$1.1 billion, making it India's first space-technology "unicorn". On 18 July 2026 Vikram-1 lifted off from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre on mission Aagaman and placed its payloads into a 450 km orbit at 60° inclination about 15 minutes after lift-off. Payloads included Skyroot's SCOPE satellite, Grahaa Space's SOLARAS CubeSat, Cosmoserve Space's "Embrace" robotic capture demonstrator and two DCubed technology demonstrators. IN-SPACe's chairman said close to 400 suppliers took part.
Next: the second flight is targeted for the end of 2026, with its first stage already at Sriharikota; Skyroot is modifying stage separation to reduce unwanted rotation rates. Commercial launches are planned from the first quarter of 2027, starting with the third flight, building to one launch a month by the end of 2027. Customer agreements cover two launches for Reflex Orbital (USA) and three for HEX20. A larger Vikram-2 (about 900 kg class, cryogenic upper stage) is targeted for late 2027.
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12 June 2018
Former ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka founded Skyroot in Hyderabad, starting in the T-Hub incubator.
Why it matters: An early test of whether India's private space sector could build orbital rockets.
December 2020
Skyroot test-fired its Kalam-5 demonstrator motor at Solar Industries, Nagpur.
Why it matters: First hardware proof of the company's solid-motor approach, built with an Indian propellant partner.
5 May 2022
The Kalam-100 third-stage motor completed a full-duration firing at Solar Industries' facility.
Why it matters: First complete Vikram-1 stage proven on the ground.
18 November 2022
Mission Prarambh flew the single-stage Vikram-S suborbital rocket to about 89.5 km.
Why it matters: Proved Skyroot could work with ISRO's range and launch processes.
June 2023
The 3D-printed Raman-1 engine for the liquid fourth stage passed flight qualification at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
Why it matters: Shows Indian private use of additive manufacturing for flight engines.
30 October 2023
Temasek Holdings led a US$27.5 million pre-Series C round.
Why it matters: Brought a large Asian state-owned investor into Indian launch, a signal for other investors.
March 2024
Skyroot tested the Kalam-250 second-stage motor.
Why it matters: Left only the large first stage to prove on the ground.
8 August 2025
The Kalam-1200 first-stage motor, with 30 tonnes of propellant made at ISRO's Sriharikota plant, was static-fired on an ISRO-designed stand.
Why it matters: Completed ground tests of all solid stages; shows ISRO facilities open to private firms.
27 November 2025
Prime Minister Modi opened Skyroot's Infinity Campus, designed to build one orbital rocket a month.
Why it matters: Series production capacity is what turns a test rocket into a launch service.
May 2026
Skyroot raised about US$60 million, co-led by GIC and Sherpalo Ventures, at a valuation of about US$1.1 billion.
Why it matters: India's first space-technology "unicorn"; funds the move to regular commercial launches.
18 July 2026
Vikram-1 lifted off from Sriharikota and placed its payloads in a 450 km, 60° orbit about 15 minutes later; close to 400 suppliers took part.
Why it matters: India's first privately developed rocket to reach orbit; gives small-satellite operators a new regional launch option.
August 2026 (announced around National Space Day, 23 Aug)
Skyroot said the first stage for its second Vikram-1 was on its way to Sriharikota.
Why it matters: Quick hardware turnaround is a test of the claimed production rate.
End of 2026 (target)
Second Vikram-1 flight from Sriharikota, with stage separation modified to reduce unwanted rotation.
What to watch: whether the fix works and the date holds; a second success would confirm the design.
First quarter of 2027 (target)
Commercial service is due to start with the third flight, building to one launch a month by end-2027; customers include Reflex Orbital (two launches) and HEX20 (three).
What to watch: launch rate and pricing against ISRO's SSLV and Rocket Lab Electron; a larger Vikram-2 is targeted for late 2027.
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Partners drawn from Skyroot, ISRO, IN-SPACe and trade press as of 7 Nov 2026. Component suppliers beyond Solar Industries and ISRO facilities have not been named publicly.
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| Compared item | Skyroot Vikram-1 (reference) | ISRO SSLV (India) | Rocket Lab Electron (USA/New Zealand) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload to LEO | 350 kg (Skyroot) or 480 kg to 500 km, 45° | 500 kg to 500 km planar orbit; 300 kg to SSO | 300 kg in one specification, 200 kg in another (same source); "up to 500 lb" in 2018 |
| Stages | 3 solid + liquid orbit adjustment module | 3 solid + liquid velocity trimming module | 2 stages + kick stage |
| First orbital success | 18 Jul 2026 (first flight) | 10 Feb 2023 (SSLV-D2; D1 failed 7 Aug 2022) | 21 Jan 2018 ("Still Testing", second flight) |
| Launch site | Sriharikota, India | Sriharikota | Launch Complex 1, New Zealand |
| Price per launch | About US$2–3m (press estimate) | ₹30–35 crore (about US$3.5–4.1m) expected | About US$5m (2018) |
| Operator | Skyroot Aerospace | ISRO; production transferred to HAL (2025) | Rocket Lab |
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