Hyderabad-based space vehicle builder in the private sector, Skyroot Aerospace has got its name etched in the space history by introducing India’s first private rocket Vikram-S from ISRO’s launch pad at Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.The Co-founder of Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Kumar Chandana said, “We made history today by launching India’s first private rocket. It is a symbol of new India, and just the start of a great future.”
The company said, “This project gives us huge pleasure and pride in becoming the first private rocket builder to launch a private rocket in the Indian Space sector. We will be able to contribute to the development of Indian space under the leadership of ISRO.” The firm’s next target is developing its flagship Vikram I orbital vehicle, which it intends to launch in 2023. The company will be targeting both commercial and government customers, with a focus on commercial customers worldwide.
The beginning, is the mission name for the first rocket launch of Skyroot Aerospace. Vikram-S had an all-carbon fibre core structure and 3rd printed engines for spin stability during flight. It is one of the cheapest rockets built in its category globally. A 200 engineering team worked on it to build it in a record time of two years.
On what represents a successful flight mission, the company said Vikram-S will help test and validate the majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of orbital class space launch vehicles – Vikram I. Vikram II and Vikram III. There are many sub-systems and technologies that it will be testing across pre lift-off and post lift-off phases of this mission. One of the key areas it would be monitoring closely would be the performance of its solid-fuelled rocket engine Kalaam-80. The global space launch services market is projected to double in size from $14.2 billion in 2022 to $31.9 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 12.2%. Over the last decade, the average satellite size has reduced from 3000 kg to under 400 kgs. The market is increasingly being led by constellations of smaller satellites in Low Earth Orbit.