Daijiworld Media Network - Sriharikota
Sriharikota, Jul 16: India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, Vikram-1, is set to make its maiden test flight from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 18, marking a major milestone for the country's private space sector.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-1 is scheduled to lift off at 11.30 am.
"The clearance of Vikram-1 for flight following rigorous testing is a defining milestone in India's space journey. This first test flight marks the beginning of Skyroot's aspiration to open space for all," Skyroot Aerospace Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Pawan Kumar Chandana said.
The company said all stages of the rocket have been successfully integrated and stacked on the launch pad. The launch control centre has completed final integrated checks of the vehicle, along with interface testing involving telemetry ground stations and tracking radars.
The required airspace and maritime notices have also been issued, designating restricted zones along the rocket's ascent and impact corridor for launch day.
According to Skyroot, the mission marks the entry of India's private sector into the global satellite launch market.
The test flight will collect critical data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control systems and overall vehicle performance, supporting the company's transition into commercial launch operations.
The maiden mission will carry four technology demonstration payloads from Indian and international organisations.
These include the Solaras S3 satellite developed by Bengaluru-based start-up Grahaa Space, incubated at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology; Embrace, an in-orbit debris removal robotic arm developed by Hyderabad-based Cosmoserve Space; Skyroot's own Scope satellite; and an in-orbit technology demonstration from German NewSpace hardware manufacturer DCUBED.
The mission will also carry microscopic 18-carat gold sculptures of eminent Indian scientists Sir C V Raman, Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, each smaller than a grain of rice, along with Cosmos Diamonds' artwork, Cosmic Bloom.
"On 18 July, we are eager to see how Vikram-1 performs in a real flight environment for the first time. This is our first test flight, and we will be getting valuable data from it. This will be foundational to Skyroot's aspirations of establishing launch cadence," Chandana said.
Vikram-1 is a seven-storey, multi-stage launch vehicle designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit. Its maiden mission aims to place payloads into a 450-km orbit at an inclination of 60 degrees.
The rocket features an all-carbon composite structure and is powered by propulsion systems developed in-house, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters.
"The launch represents the hopes and hard work of around 1,000 people, the contributions of over 400 suppliers, and nearly 3,000 days of resolve to build a global offering from India," said Skyroot Aerospace Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Naga Bharath Daka.
"With the in-flight data gathered from this mission, we will return to the shop floor to learn, improve, and build further," he added.
The upcoming Mission Aagaman will be Skyroot's second launch mission after the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, which became the first private rocket to reach space from Indian soil on November 18, 2022.