Vikram-1 Test Launch: Skyroot Enters Its Commercial Launch Era, Can It Take On SpaceX?

Last week, Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, carrying multiple customer test payloads into low Earth orbit (LEO). With this, the startup has become the first Indian private company to send its rocket into space. 

Under its ‘Aagaman’ mission, Vikram-1 completed every major flight milestone — from stage separations and crossing Max-Q (the point of maximum aerodynamic stress) to orbital insertion. This also helped validate its propulsion, telemetry, avionics, guidance and navigation systems under real flight conditions.

The rocket carried payloads from Cosmoserve, which demonstrated its soft robotic capture system for space debris removal, along with Grahaa Space and DCubed, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE.

The success has placed Skyroot in the small group of private launch companies worldwide that have crossed the orbital threshold. Yet, for cofounder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana, the launch is not the finish line. 

“We have spent years developing launch vehicles. The engineering work helped us reach orbit in the first mission. Now we are entering the flight phase, which brings us closer to regular operations and commercial launches,” Chandana said.

He added that the startup has now transitioned from building rockets to sending them to space. This distinction matters because flying is what turns a rocket company into a launch business.

Besides, the startup joined India’s unicorn club only weeks before Vikram-1’s maiden mission. The fresh capital gives it room to expand production while preparing for commercial launches and developing the next generation of rockets. 

 Until now, Skyroot’s journey had largely revolved around laboratories, engine tests, qualification campaigns and manufacturing. Its focus is now on proving that Vikram-1 can perform consistently across multiple missions. 

The startup already has developmental flights lined up before opening the vehicle for regular commercial operations. Those launches will help engineers compare real flight data against years of simulation and ground testing. Skyroot is now analysing the telemetry collected during Mission Aagaman before deciding what, if any, changes should be incorporated into its next launch vehicle. 

Skyroot’s Commercial Journey Begins

For India’s spacetech sector, Vikram-1’s success is significant. For decades, orbital launches remained the domain of ISRO. The opening of the space sector allowed private companies to enter launch services, satellite manufacturing and downstream applications, but there was scepticism. Mission Aagaman has put much of that to rest. 

According to Chandana, the launch sends a positive signal not only to customers but also investors, suppliers and engineers working in India’s growing spacetech industry. 

“It gives satellite companies confidence that they can launch from India, validates the capabilities of our supplier network and strengthens the case of investing in India’s deeptech space. It also shows young engineers that world-class space technology can be built here,” he said.

For Skyroot, reaching orbit is only the first step. This is critical, especially when satellite launches have become increasingly difficult to secure. 

In the last few years, the number of satellites being built has grown sharply. Earth observation companies, defence contractors, climate tech startups and telecom operators are all adding satellites to their constellations. But launch capacity has not kept pace. 

Skyroot seems to have plugged this gap. Rather than competing head-on with the largest launch providers on payload capacity, Vikram-1 is designed for the small satellite market. The four-stage launch vehicle can carry up to 480 kg to LEO and 290 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). 

“We are solving a slightly different problem. Many customers need a dedicated launch to a specific orbit on a specific timeline rather than sharing space on a larger mission,” the founder said.

He added that manufacturing in India, combined with dedicated mission flexibility and competitive pricing, could help the startup attract customers from both domestic and overseas markets. This also positions Skyroot to tap the growing small satellite launch market alongside established providers such as SpaceX, Rocket Lab and Firefly. 

While Chandana did not divulge details about its clients, he said that Skyroot was getting a lot of interest from India, the US, Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia.  

Meanwhile, the spacetech startup’s engineers have already turned their attention to the next launch vehicle rolling through the production line. 

An upgraded version, Vikram-1, is expected to expand the vehicle’s capabilities, while Vikram-2 is being developed as a one-tonne class launch vehicle powered by a cryogenic upper stage. The startup is targeting Vikram-2’s maiden flight in 2027, widening its presence across different segments of the satellite launch market. 

Reusability also remains part of Skyroot’s long-term plans. While the startup’s immediate attention is on taking Vikram-1 into commercial service and developing Vikram-2, work on reusable launch systems is in progress. 

Overall, Skyroot’s first successful orbital mission marks the beginning of its journey. The real challenge, however, lies in executing reliable commercial launches, scaling production and winning global customers. 

Edited By Shishir Parasher
Creatives: Abhyam Ghusai

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