Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based space startup, achieved a significant milestone in India’s private space sector with the successful launch of its Vikram-S rocket in November 2022. The mission, dubbed "Prarambh," marked the first time a private company in India launched a vehicle into suborbital space, signaling a shift in the country’s aerospace capabilities as the government opens the sector to commercial players.
The Origins of Skyroot Aerospace
Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both former engineers at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The founders aimed to address the growing demand for small-satellite launches by creating a cost-effective, agile alternative to traditional government-led missions. According to the company’s official corporate profile, the startup focuses on developing the Vikram series of launch vehicles, named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space program.
The company’s strategy centers on modular rocket design and 3D-printing technologies to reduce manufacturing time and costs. By leveraging components that can be mass-produced, Skyroot seeks to provide launch services on demand for global satellite operators.
Vikram-1 and Suborbital Capabilities
The Vikram-1 rocket is designed as a multi-stage launch vehicle capable of placing satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). While the Vikram-S was a single-stage suborbital test vehicle used to validate the company’s propulsion and avionics systems, the full-scale Vikram-1 is intended for commercial orbital flights.
As reported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Skyroot utilizes the "Dhaavan-1" and "Raman-1" engines, which are cryogenic and hypergolic-fueled respectively. These engines were tested at private facilities, marking a transition toward an ecosystem where private firms manage the end-to-end development of propulsion systems.
India’s Evolving Space Policy
The entry of private firms like Skyroot is supported by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). Established by the Government of India, IN-SPACe acts as a single-window interface between ISRO and private entities, facilitating access to technology, testing facilities, and launch infrastructure.
This policy shift, formalized through the Indian Space Policy 2023, aims to increase India’s share in the global space economy. According to data from the Department of Space, the goal is to encourage private investment, which has historically been limited to manufacturing components for ISRO rather than building complete launch vehicles.
Market Position and Future Outlook
Skyroot faces competition from both international incumbents and domestic startups. Unlike SpaceX, which focuses on heavy-lift and reusable rockets, Skyroot targets the "microsatellite" market—small, lightweight satellites that require dedicated, low-cost launch slots.
| Feature | Skyroot Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 |
| Key Vehicle | Vikram-1 |
| Primary Focus | Small-satellite launches |
| Regulatory Body | IN-SPACe |
The startup has secured multiple rounds of venture capital funding, including backing from firms like Temasek and Myntra co-founder Mukesh Bansal’s Cure.fit. These investments are intended to scale manufacturing capacity and finalize the orbital launch profile for the Vikram-1 vehicle. As the company moves toward its first orbital mission, its ability to maintain cost-efficiency while ensuring reliability will determine its long-term viability in the competitive global launch market.
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