Science TechnologySaturday, 18 July 2026·The Hindu - Science
Vikram-1 becomes India’s first private orbital rocket to place payloads in 450-km LEO
On July 18, 2026, Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 became India’s first privately developed orbital rocket to deploy payloads into low Earth orbit from Sriharikota.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 became India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket when it launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and placed payloads into a low Earth orbit of about 450 km at 60° inclination.
Key specifics
- Launch date: July 18, 2026; mission name: Mission Aagaman.
- Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; rescheduled liftoff time: 12:05 p.m.
- Orbit achieved: approximately 450 km LEO with 60-degree inclination.
- Vehicle details: seven-storey, multi-stage rocket with all-carbon composite structure and in-house propulsion systems.
- Payloads: six technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot, plus Cosmos Diamonds’ artwork “Cosmic Bloom”.
Exam lens
Question type: Science & technology match-the-following, private launch vehicle, LEO, IN-SPACe, Sriharikota, 450 km orbit. TNPSC may ask which Indian company achieved private orbital launch capability and what orbit was targeted.