Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Skyroot Aerospace after the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first private orbital rocket [1].
The achievement marks a shift in India's space sector by moving orbital launch capabilities beyond government agencies and into the private industry. This milestone positions India as one of the few countries globally to possess a commercial orbital launch ecosystem.
The rocket launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on May 30, 2024 [2]. The Vikram-1 achieved orbit on its first attempt [3], a feat that prompted the Prime Minister to dial into the celebrations to speak with the company's founders [1].
During the call, Modi said the achievement inspires the next generation of Indian innovators. "You have not only planted the flag of Skyroot but also the flag of India's youth on the orbit," Modi said [1].
The Prime Minister said the success of the mission validated his confidence in the country's young entrepreneurs. "You have proved my faith in India's youth," Modi said [2].
According to the Prime Minister, the successful mission makes India the third nation in the world to possess such private orbital capability [4]. The launch, known as Mission Aagaman, was designed to demonstrate that a private Indian entity could independently place a payload into orbit [2].
Modi said the event was a historic milestone for the nation. He encouraged the founders to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation as the country expands its footprint in the global space economy [4].
“"You have not only planted the flag of Skyroot but also the flag of India's youth on the orbit."”
The success of Vikram-1 signals a transition for India from a state-led space program to a hybrid model where private startups can compete globally. By becoming the third nation with private orbital capability, India reduces its reliance on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for all launch needs and increases its attractiveness to international commercial satellite customers.
