India's Skyroot Aerospace Launches Vikram-1, Achieving Private Orbital Rocket Milestone
On July 18, 2026, Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission, named 'Mission Aagaman,' marked a significant milestone for India's space sector, placing multiple technology demonstration payloads and postcards, including one from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, into low-Earth orbit. The Vikram-1 rocket, standing 22 meters tall, is designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kg. This launch signifies India's entry into an elite group of nations with private orbital launch capabilities, following policy reforms that opened the space sector to private participation.