It is developed by Skyroot Aerospace under Mission Aagaman and demonstrated India's capability for commercial, on-demand satellite launches by the private sector.
- India became the third country, after the United States and China, to have launching capabilities in the private sector.
About Vikram-1
- Fully designed and manufactured in India.
- Capability: Small Satellite deployment (up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or up to 260 kg to Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO))
- Features:
- All-carbon composite structure.
- 4-stage rocket with 3 solid stages and a liquid stage.
- 3D-printed liquid-fuel engine.
- Autonomous Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) system powered by the Ramanujan mission computer.
- Mission Payload: SCOPE (Skyroot), Drishti (DCUBED technology demonstrator), SOLARAS S3 (Grahaa Space), Embrace (Cosmoserve) robotic arm for space debris capture.
- Symbolic payloads: Cosmic Bloom (floral-shaped artwork); gold micro-rocket with sculptures of C. V. Raman, Vikram Sarabhai and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Status of India's Space Sector
- India accounts for only ~2% of the global space economy.
- The number of space startups has increased from just 1 in 2014 to nearly 400 (2026).
- India's space economy is currently valued at around USD 8.4 billion and is projected to grow to USD 40–45 billion over the next decade. It is further aimed to reach USD 100 billion by 2040.
