Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 18 : Advisor to Gujarat Council on Science and Technology Narottam Sahoo on Friday praised the successful launch of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket Vikram-1, saying that the initiative will create a new history.
Speaking with ANI, he highlighted that the 24-meter rocket they built, designed for Low Earth Orbit, utilised materials created entirely through 3D printing and carbon fibre technology.
"The successful flight of 'Vikram-1' today; it introduced so many novel approaches and established a solid foundation in the space sector. This marked the first major success for Skyroot Aerospace, a space startup. The 24-meter rocket they built, designed for Low Earth Orbit, utilised materials created entirely through 3D printing and carbon fibre technology. Prime Minister Modi established IN-SPACe in Ahmedabad five years ago to integrate private players into ISRO's mainstream activities; this initiative is creating a new history," he said.
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 successfully reached orbit, marking the maiden flight of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket.
The rocket completed its final burn and injected its payloads into a nearly 450-km orbit, making India the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability.
The mission, named 'Mission Aagaman', was executed from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The 24-metre carbon-composite rocket completed all planned flight stages, including stage separations and the firing of its Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM).
The Vikram-1 rocket, powered by three solid-fuel stages and a liquid orbital adjustment module, is designed to deploy payloads up to 350 kg into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The maiden flight carried multiple payloads, including the "Diamond Lotus", a lab-grown diamond from Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds.
Among the payloads on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 is something truly special--a handwritten postcard from PM Modi with the words, "Vande Mataram."
It travels to space alongside handwritten messages from the Skyroot team, investors, policymakers, and well-wishers across the globe, making Mission Aagaman a celebration carried by many hands and shared by millions.