Vikram S, India's first privately made rocket was successfully launched from Sriharikota.

Vikram S, India's first privately built rocket was launched today at 11.30 AM on November 18, 2022 from Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) launchpad in Sriharikota.

The 6-meter-tall spacecraft, developed by  Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, a four year old Hyderabad based start-up, reached a maximum altitude of 89.5 kilometres before crashing into the Bay of Bengal about five minutes after the launch. The mission was called Misson Prarambh meaning 'the beginning'.

Vikram S has been named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space.

Vikram S is a single-stage solid fuelled, sub-orbital rocket developed over the course of two years by incorporating advanced technologies including carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components.

The rocket was equipped with a gross lift off mass of 545kg, and payload mass of 80 kg. It carried with it three customer payloads, out of which two belonged to domestic customers and the other, a foreign client.

These payloads will map the measurement and validation of specific flight parameters and payload integration processes.

The launch served as a technological demonstration of the company's capabilities. Subject to IN-technical SPACe's approval, the rocket will aid in the validation of technology that will be utilised in Skyroot's upcoming Vikram-1 orbital vehicle, which is scheduled for launch next year.

After the mission's successful launch, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) chairman Pawan Goenka said, “All systems worked as planned. Skyroot demonstrated sub-systems that will go into their orbital class launch vehicles. This is a new beginning for the Indian space sector and a historic moment for all of us.”

Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh and Chairman, IN-SPACe congratulated Skyroot for the accomplishment and thanked ISRO for the able support provided.

Singh said, "It is indeed a new beginning and a new dawn in the journey of India's space programme."

Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO and co-founder of Skyroot Aerospace, said, "We created history today by launching India's first privately developed rocket. It's the beginning of a new era in the Indian space ecosystem. We thank IN-SPACe and Isro."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls it a historic moment for India and congratulates the companies for the successful launch.

He took his social media and wrote, “A historic moment for India as the rocket Vikram-S, developed by Skyroot Aerospace, took off from Sriharikota today! It is an important milestone in the journey of India’s private space industry. Congrats to @isro & @INSPACeIND for enabling this feat”, the prime minister tweeted.