Skyroot unveils Vikram-I as India accelerates private space plans

November 28, 2025 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani

Skyroot unveils Vikram-I as India accelerates private space ambitions

India continued its rapid march toward private space innovation with the unveiling of Vikram-I.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 27 November 2025, virtually unveiled Vikram-I, India’s first privately built orbital rocket.

The 26-meter launch vehicle, developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, is capable of placing a 300-kg satellite into orbit.

Its maiden mission is scheduled for 2026.

Moreover, the Prime Minister also inaugurated Skyroot’s new Infinity Campus in Hyderabad.

The facility will manage the design, development, integration, and testing of future launch vehicles. It will also serve as the company’s head office.

Skyroot Aerospace, founded in 2018 by Pawan Chandana and Bharat Dhaka, continues to push India’s private space sector forward.

Both founders are IIT graduates and former ISRO scientists. The company earlier launched Vikram-S in 2022.

That mission achieved a 100-km altitude but did not enter orbit. However, Vikram-I marks a major leap because it will place satellites into orbit.

During the event, PM Modi praised the achievements of Skyroot’s young team.

He said that India is taking bold steps in strengthening the private space ecosystem. He noted that the Infinity Campus reflects India’s new mindset and growing innovation culture.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the nation’s youth show remarkable risk-taking ability.

The Prime Minister also commended the founders for trusting their vision. He said the country is witnessing the results of their confidence.

He acknowledged ISRO’s long-standing role in shaping India’s space journey. Yet he emphasised that the sector is expanding quickly due to changing needs.

Consequently, the government introduced major reforms to open the space sector for private players.

It also launched a new space policy and encouraged startup participation.

PM Modi stated that these measures now show a visible impact. According to him, India’s young innovators place national interest first and use every opportunity wisely.

He added that Gen Z entrepreneurs stepped forward as soon as the sector opened.

Skyroot’s Vikram-I now stands as a symbol of India’s growing presence in the global rocket market.

It also reflects the rising confidence of India’s private space industry.

Image Credit: Footy2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons