India to launch first privately made rocket with payloads |
Skyroot Aerospace is set to become the first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space, heralding a new era for the space sector which was opened up in 2020 to facilitate private sector participation. The preparation for the launch of India`s first privately developed rocket, named the Vikram-S, is currently underway at the ISRO`s launchpad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Vikram-S is developed by Skyroot Aerospace, and its mission is to carry three customer payloads into Lower Earth Orbit. A launch window between November 12 and 16 has been notified by authorities, and the final date is confirmed based on weather conditions. The mission has been aptly named, Prarambh, or the beginning. Speaking about the rocket, Naga Bharath Daka, Chief Operating Officer of Skyroot Aerospace said the Vikram-S rocket is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle which would carry three customer payloads and help test and validate the majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of space launch vehicles. Skyroot Aerospace CEO and co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana said that Skyroot could build and get the Vikram-S rocket mission-ready in such a short time only because of the invaluable support from ISRO and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre. Skyroot`s launch vehicles are named `Vikram` as a tribute to the founder of the Indian space programme and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.
|
|
|
|