Vikram-1 rocket successfully places technical payload into orbit, postcards from astronauts, PM Modi | Today’s news
Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, successfully deployed several technology demonstration payloads into low Earth orbit on Saturday along with postcards, including one from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The mission, dubbed ‘Mission Aagaman’, led by Skyroot Aerospace, marked the entry of the country’s private sector into the orbital launch market, news agency PTI reported.
According to the company, the mission was a “huge success”.
The launch was witnessed by Skyroot founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both former ISRO scientists, who were present at the agency’s Mission Control Center (MCC) along with ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. Former ISRO chiefs, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh were also present.
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Vikram-1 takes off on its maiden voyage
On its maiden voyage, the four-stage, seven-story-tall rocket lifted off from the first launch pad at 12:05 a.m. amid cloudy skies, leaving behind thick clouds of orange smoke. The launch marked a new era for the spaceport. Due to apparent navigation issues, a “scheduled stop” forced a revised start time of 12:05 p.m.
With Saturday’s launch, Skyroot achieved its first successful orbital mission using the Vikram-1 launch vehicle, marking a major step beyond the Vikram-S suborbital flight in 2022.
After liftoff, the rocket deployed its primary payloads one by one into 450 km low Earth orbit. Payloads included technology demonstrators from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot’s SCOPE.
Read also | Watch the launch of Vikram 1 LIVE: India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket
Skyroot pays homage to the Space Deans Program
A load of micro-artists were also deployed along with an 18-carat gold rocket, a handwritten postcard from Modi carrying the message “Vande Mataram” and postcards presented by engineers, scientists and Indian astronauts.
The company said the micro-art payload, which carried micro-sculptures of the doyens of India’s space programme, including Vikram Sarabhai, Sir CV Raman and former president APJ Abdul Kalam, was created “as a tribute to three visionaries who shaped India’s scientific and space journey”.
The company added: “Skyroot has proudly named its rockets and engines after these icons.”
PM Modi congratulates Skyroot
Speaking at X PM, Modi said he congratulated the company behind the successful launch of the Vikram-1 mission. He remarked, “He spoke to the Skyroot Aerospace team and congratulated them on the successful launch of Vikram-1. This is a defining moment in India’s space journey. The growing participation of our private sector is opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation. This success will inspire countless young people to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly.”
Technical data to support future missions
Skyroot Aerospace said technical data collected during the test flight will now be studied to validate the rocket’s guidance and navigation systems and help improve future commercial satellite missions.
The mission also confirmed the performance of the rocket’s all-carbon composite structure and 3D-printed engines under real-world flight conditions, technologies the company says are industry firsts.
The payload represents different technologies
Among the payloads carried aboard Vikram-1 was Embrace, a Cosmoserve Space mission designed to demonstrate robotic arms that could one day be used to remove space debris in orbit. The rocket also deployed Solaras, a compact satellite developed by Grahaa Space to test new capabilities in low Earth orbit (LEO).
The mission also included Skyroot Aerospace’s in-house experimental satellite, SCOPE. According to the company, the payload was developed to evaluate space technologies that could be used in future missions.
The launch also included Cosmic Bloom, which Cosmos Diamonds described as a lab-grown artistic diamond, as well as uD3PP and mD3RN, two technology demonstration payloads developed by Germany’s DCubed, all of which were successfully placed in space.
