Rockets, Risks And Space Race: Skyroot Co-Founder Pawan Kumar Chandana Speaks On 'What Next'

Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, speaks about India's space revolution, global ambitions, private-sector innovation and the future of the country's growing space ecosystem in a podcast, 'What Next', with Times Now Digital's Nikunj Garg.During the conversation, Chandana opened up about the challenges he faced on his journey to launching India's first private rocket into space. He also revealed that after achieving that milestone, Skyroot Aerospace, India's 'first space-tech unicorn', is now gearing up to launch India's first private orbital rocket. "It is already at the launch site," Chandana said, expressing confidence about the company's next big leap.Sharing his vision for the future, Chandana said space travel

should eventually become as commonplace as air travel. Drawing a comparison with Elon Musk-led SpaceX, he said, "SpaceX is more like a plane to go to space, and we are more like a cab to go to space," highlighting Skyroot's aim of providing flexible access to orbit.Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Chandana recalled resigning from his job before informing his parents about the decision. He also spoke about the hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that investors' priorities shifted significantly during the period, making it even more challenging for startups.Catch the latest episode of 'What Next' with Nikunj Garg on the Times Now and Mirror Now YouTube channels.About Skyroot Aerospace:Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited is a private Indian aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider headquartered in Hyderabad. It came into existence in 2018. As per the company’s official website, it has a team over 1,000 experts. In 2022, the company successfully launched India's first private rocket, Vikram-S. In May the company announced that it had become India's first space-tech unicorn following its latest round of funding of nearly USD 60 million, taking its valuation to$1.1 billion.