India’s first private rocket Vikram-S to be launched in November: here’s what we know

The mission will be historic, as rockets in the country have been the domain of the Indian Space Research Organization until now.

. The company has already received technical launch approval from IN-SPACe for the launch. (Photo: Skyroot/Representative)

By Sibu Tripathic: In what will be India’s first private sector space launch, Skyroot Aerospace will launch the country’s first privately developed rocket into space. The Prarambh mission is expected to be launched in the second week of November on a demonstration flight with the Vikram-S launcher.

The mission will be historic as rockets in the country have hitherto been the domain of the public sector, with the Indian Space Research Organization leading the development, design and launch of space missions.

While the company has said that the mission could launch between November 12 and 16, they haven’t released any details on the final launch date yet. The company has already received a technical launch clearance from IN-SPACe, the country’s hub for promoting and regulating space technology players.

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Sireesh Pallikonda, Business Development Lead, Skyroot told cafemadrid.in that this will be a demonstration flight with three customer payloads. “We don’t have a definite launch date yet, but Vikram-S will be launched between November 12-16,” he said.

“I am pleased to announce Prarambh, our first launch mission, also the first for the Indian private space sector, with a launch window between November 12-16, ’22,” the Telangana-based aerospace company said on Tuesday, as Isro chairman S Somnath said the mission patch for the first launch in Bengaluru.

Skyroot has developed three variants of the Vikram missile. While the Vikram-I can carry 480 kilograms of payload to Low Earth Orbit, the Vikram-II is equipped to take off with 595 kilograms of cargo. Meanwhile, Vikram-III can launch with 815 kg to 500 km low ramp.

The Vikram-I launch vehicle is powered by the Kalam-100 rocket, which successfully passed a static fire test earlier this year.

The test was conducted at a facility owned by one of the company’s investors, Solar Industries India.

“Super excited to announce our first #Prarambh launch mission from the beautiful island of Sriharikota. Crazy mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness,” tweeted Skyroot co-founder Pawan Chandana.

The Prarambh mission will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center off the coast of Andhra Pradesh in Sriharikota.

The mission will carry three payloads, including a 2.5-kilogram payload developed by students from several countries, including India, under the auspices of SpaceKidzIndia.

“We are excited and very pleased to have our payloads flying aboard this historic mission, which is an important milestone in the country’s commercial space sector. It has been a great experience working with all of you,” said Space Kidz India.

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