Skyroot's Vikram-1 set to attempt India's first private orbital rocket launch on July 18

Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian space-tech startup, is set to launch the first orbital flight of its indigenously developed Vikram-1 rocket on Saturday, July 18, at 11:30 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission, named 'Agaman' (meaning "arrival"), marks a major milestone for India's private space sector as it will be the nation's first attempt to launch a completely privately developed orbital launch vehicle.

Vikram-1 will carry a range of technology demonstration payloads, including those from Earth observation nanosatellite maker Grahaa Space. The rocket will also transport payloads from Indian space debris removal company Cosmoserve, space component developer DCubed, and Skyroot's own SCOPE satellite, which is designed to collect critical flight data. In addition, the mission will carry Cosmic Bloom, a diamond art piece by Cosmos Diamonds, along with a micro-art installation.

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Private launches in India

So far, two Indian launch vehicle developers, including Skyroot, have successfully demonstrated sub-orbital flights—missions that carry payloads to the edge of space but do not achieve the velocity required to place them into orbit.

In addition, the technology for ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) has been transferred to industry, which will eventually operate the rocket commercially and offer launch services to both Indian and global customers. The technology for ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has also been transferred to an industry consortium, with its first privately operated flight likely to take place later this year.

Named in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space programme, Vikram-1 stands seven storeys tall. The rocket is designed to place small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). For its maiden mission, it is targeting a 450-km orbit at a 60-degree inclination.

Alongside Vikram-1, ISRO's SSLV and Agnikul Cosmos' upcoming launch vehicles are expected to significantly expand India's capability to launch small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. This comes as demand for such launches continues to rise, driven by the rapid growth of satellite constellations being deployed by companies such as Starlink and OneWeb.

If successful, the Agaman mission will mark a defining moment for India's private space industry, paving the way for commercial orbital launches by homegrown companies.