Skyroot Vikram-I: India's First Private Rocket to Reach Orbit

When you think of space rockets, you probably picture NASA, SpaceX, or Roscosmos. But Skyroot Vikram-I, India’s first privately built orbital rocket designed to carry small satellites into space. Also known as the Vikram-I, it’s not just a technical achievement—it’s a sign that space is no longer just for governments. Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a startup founded in 2018, the Vikram-I launched in November 2022 and became the first privately developed rocket from India to reach space. It didn’t go into orbit on that test flight, but it proved the core tech works: solid-fuel propulsion, 3D-printed engines, and a lightweight structure built faster and cheaper than traditional rockets.

The real story behind Vikram-I isn’t just about the rocket itself—it’s about who built it and why it matters. Unlike older space programs that took decades and billions, Skyroot did this in under five years with a team of fewer than 100 engineers. They didn’t wait for government approval to start. They built a prototype, tested it, and flew it. This is the new model of space: startups, not state agencies, leading innovation. The Indian space industry, a mix of public agencies like ISRO and emerging private firms is now officially open for business. And private spaceflight, the movement of companies launching rockets for profit, not just science is exploding globally—with India joining the U.S., Europe, and China in the race.

Why does this matter to you? Because small satellites are changing everything—from tracking crop health in rural India to monitoring climate data from remote oceans. The Vikram-I was built to launch these tiny payloads cheaply and often. Traditional rockets cost millions and wait years for a launch slot. Skyroot’s model lets startups, universities, and even small countries get their gear into space for a fraction of the price. That’s why countries like Japan, Australia, and Singapore are already signing deals with Skyroot. The space startup India, a growing ecosystem of companies building rockets, sensors, and AI tools for space isn’t just a national project anymore—it’s becoming a global player.

What you’ll find in the articles below isn’t just technical specs or launch videos. It’s the real-world impact: how this rocket is changing who gets to go to space, what it means for India’s tech future, and how private companies are rewriting the rules of space exploration. From the engineers behind the scenes to the startups betting on this new era, these stories show why Vikram-I isn’t just a rocket—it’s a turning point.