Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 successfully reached Low Earth Orbit, marking India’s first privately developed orbital rocket mission
July 18, 2026: India achieved a historic milestone on Saturday as Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, becoming the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. The mission, named Mission Aagaman, is the first attempt by an Indian private company to place satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), marking a significant step forward for India’s growing private space industry.
The launch was briefly delayed after mission control placed the countdown on a planned hold just minutes before the scheduled liftoff at 11:30 am. The rocket eventually lifted off successfully at 12:05 pm, completing its planned flight and successfully injecting its payloads into an orbit of approximately 450 kilometres above Earth.
Announcing the achievement on X, Skyroot Aerospace said Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 had successfully reached orbit after completing its final burn. The company described the mission as a historic moment, stating that India has become the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability. The successful mission marks a major breakthrough for India’s commercial space ambitions and the expanding role of private companies in the country’s space programme.