India's First Private Rocket 'Vikram-S' To Be Launched Next Week

In a significant development, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace is all set to launch its maiden rocket mission from Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Sriharikota launchpad this month.

The rocket - Vikram-S - will be the first space launch vehicle manufactured and operated entirely by a private company in the country.

This will be the first launch of its kind since the Modi government opened up the space sector for private industry participation in June 2020.

Skyroot has dubbed its maiden rocket launch mission as Prarambh (Beginning).

The final date of the launch mission will be confirmed depending on the prevalent weather conditions during the mentioned launch window, reports Livemint.

"Thrilled to announce Prarambh, our maiden launch mission, also the first for the Indian private space sector, with launch window between 12-16 Nov '22," Skyroot said in a statement.

Skyroot Aerospace, which has so far raised $68 million, is India’s most funded private space startup. It is among the first companies to locally build fully 3D-printed rocket engines and successfully testing the same in November last year.