India achieves milestone with launch of first private-sector orbital rocket
Summary
India successfully launched its first private-sector orbital rocket, the Vikram-1, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This rocket carried customer payloads into low-Earth orbit, making India the third country to achieve this feat through a private company.Key Facts
- The Vikram-1 rocket is 22 meters tall and has three stages.
- It launched from Sriharikota and placed payloads into a 450 km (280-mile) low-Earth orbit.
- India is the third country to launch an orbital rocket by a private company.
- Vikram-1 can carry up to 350 kg (772 lb) of payload and has robotic arms to clear space debris.
- The rocket carried experimental equipment, a lab-grown diamond, and a small 18-carat gold sculpture.
- The rocket test validated all key flight systems including propulsion and navigation.
- Skyroot Aerospace, founded in 2018, built the rocket and is India’s first space startup valued at $1 billion.
- India’s national space program has a history of achievements, including launching 104 satellites on one rocket in 2017 and a successful moon landing in 2023.
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