India saw the first launch in the country's history of an orbital rocket developed by a private company. The Vikram-1 rocket, created by Skyroot Aerospace, successfully launched on July 18 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, Reuters reports .
The company reported that the test flight was successful and the rocket completed its mission, becoming India's first private orbital launch vehicle.
The Vikram-1 rocket is approximately 22 meters tall and is designed to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit. It can deliver payloads weighing up to 350 kilograms into space.
During its maiden launch, the rocket carried several experimental payloads, including a laboratory-grown diamond, robotic devices for space debris removal, and a miniature golden rocket.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the launch an important event for the country's space program. According to him, the development of the private sector opens up new opportunities for innovation and will stimulate youth interest in space technologies.
India opened its space sector to private companies in 2020, allowing them to develop rockets, satellites, and participate in space missions. In 2023, the country became the fourth in the world to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon's surface.
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