India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket is prepared for its initial launch. On July 2, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace announced that the launch window for Vikram-1’s first test flight, called Mission Aagaman, runs from July 12 to August 4. The company stated that Test Flight-1 is scheduled no earlier than July 12, pending completion of assembly and testing at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, along with suitable weather, safety, and range approvals. The window closes on August 4. Skyroot noted that Mission Aagaman represents its second mission after the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, the first private rocket launched from Indian soil, on November 18, 2022. The upcoming flight will be partially commercial, with full commercial operations planned after one or two successful orbital demonstrations. Domestic and international customers are participating in the test flight. All stages of Vikram-1 have been integrated and stacked at the launch pad. The mission will collect data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control, and overall vehicle performance to support future commercial operations. Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle featuring an all-carbon composite structure and in-house propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters. It is designed to deliver small satellites up to 350 kg to low Earth orbit. The maiden mission targets a 450 km altitude orbit with 60-degree inclination. The flight-ready rocket was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2025. The primary goal of the mission is to obtain real in-flight performance data from all systems to validate designs and guide further development toward a reliable commercial launch programme.
