Srikanth Godavarthi

AsSkyroot Aerospace prepares for the maiden orbital launch of Vikram-1, co-founder and CEO Pawan Chandana says the mission represents a defining moment not only for the company but also for India’s private space sector. Four years after launching Vikram-S, India’s first private rocket, Skyroot is now looking to demonstrate its first orbital launch vehicle while targeting a growing global market for dedicated satellite launches.

Looking back at the company’s journey, Chandana says the progress from a suborbital rocket to an orbital launch vehicle has come in a relatively short period.

“To put it in perspective, it has been just over four years since we launched Vikram-S, India’s first private rocket. Going from a suborbital demonstration to an orbital-class launch vehicle in that time is a big leap. For Skyroot, Vikram-1 is our first opportunity to prove that we can design, build and operate a reliable orbital launch system. It is a transition from technology validation to commercial readiness.” Chandana says the company’s confidence is underpinned by a growing mismatch between the number of satellites waiting to be launched and the availability of launch vehicles worldwide.

“The world needs more rockets. There are more satellites waiting to get to orbit than there are launch vehicles to take them there, and that gap is only widening.”

He says Vikram-1 has been built to offer satellite operators greater flexibility by providing dedicated launches instead of rideshare missions.

“Vikram-1 is built to help close it. What makes it different is the experience we are offering — a cab to space. Small satellite operators can book a dedicated ride, on their schedule, to their precise orbit. That kind of access is hard to come by today.” While the first mission is expected to validate the rocket’s performance, Chandana says it will also provide crucial data for future flights.

“The first mission is our most significant step yet. It is a data-gathering flight. Every bit of data we bring back lets us iterate and progressively establish Vikram-1 as a flight-proven, reliable and affordable path to space.”

The learnings from the maiden launch will immediately feed into the company’s next mission, he says.

“That data also feeds directly into our second test flight, which is already in production at our Max-Q and Infinity Campus facilities in Hyderabad.” Beyond Skyroot’s own ambitions, Chandana believes Vikram-1 marks an important step for India’s commercial space ecosystem.

“For India’s private space sector, this is a structural milestone. It demonstrates that Indian startups are no longer building components or supporting missions—they are capable of delivering complete orbital launch systems.”

He credits policy reforms and the opening up of the sector for creating an environment in which private companies can build launch vehicles.

“The country went from one private space company in 2014 to more than 400 registered entities today. The policy framework, IN-SPACe, the 2020 liberalisation, and the government’s willingness to open up the sector built the architecture. Companies like ours are now building on that foundation.”

The opportunity, Chandana says, extends well beyond India as satellite constellations continue to expand across the world. “The demand is structural, global, and badly underserved. Industry forecasts point to tens of thousands of small satellites being launched over the next decade.”

He says most small satellite operators currently have limited launch options, often relying on spare capacity aboard larger rockets. “Today most small satellite operators are stuck riding along on larger rockets. Vikram-1 changes that. We offer a cab to space—a dedicated ride to your precise orbit, when you want it.”

International customers already account for the majority of Skyroot’s demand, Chandana says, reflecting the global nature of the launch market.

“About two-thirds of our demand comes from overseas markets, particularly the US, Japan, Europe and Southeast Asia, while the domestic side is growing too. There are more qualified, funded satellite programmes waiting for slots than there are launch windows from trusted providers. That gap is exactly what our Cab to Space model is built to close.”