Mission Prarambh: India's First Private Rocket Vikram-S Launches

Vikram-S, a suborbital launch vehicle from M/s Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, was successfully launched on November 18, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. It is the first launch of a launch vehicle constructed by an Indian private business. IN-SPACe gave permission for the mission.

As expected, the rocket reached a height of about 89.5 kilometres in 155 seconds. Three payloads were carried by this loud rocket.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State and Chairman of IN-SPACe, congratulated Skyroot on their achievement and thanked ISRO for their capable assistance.

Why it is called Vikram-S?

Vikram-S is called such in tribute to Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (1919 – 1971), who was an Indian physicist and astronomer who pioneered space exploration and contributed to the development of nuclear tech in India. In 1966, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, and in 1972, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. He is known across the world as the "Parent of the Indian Space Program." 

Who is Skyrocket Aerospace?

Skyroot Aerospace was founded in July 2018 by former Indian Space Research Organization scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, with the help of Vasudevan Gnanagandhi and a small group of entrepreneurs that included CureFit founders Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagor. Skyroot has raised a first $4.3 million in funding, including from space and defence contractor Solar Industries. The business has been working on its first launch vehicle, the "Vikram 1," which is scheduled to launch towards the end of 2022.

Skyroot Aerospace was named the winner of the National Startup Awards 2020 on October 6, 2020, by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Skyroot Aerospace signed a non-disclosure agreement on February 2, 2021. (NDA). Skyroot Aerospace would be able to use the resources and technical experience of ISRO laboratories to construct its launch vehicles thanks to the NDA.

Skyroot Aerospace announced on February 8, 2021, that they have teamed with Bellatrix Aerospace to use the Orbital Transfer Vehicle of Bellatrix Aerospace with their Vikram series of Launch Vehicles.

What are the next Rockets planned in a series of launches?

The first rocket in the series, the Vikram I, features three solid fuel-powered stages, each with a burn length of 80 to 100 seconds, and the last stage is a Raman engine. In a cluster of four engines, the Raman engine is fuelled by MMH and NTO liquid fuels and generates 3.4 kN thrust. These Raman Engines will be utilized to make final tweaks to the stage's orbit. Vikram I is planning to lift 290 kg into a 500 km Sun-synchronous polar orbit (SSPO) and 480 kg into a 500 km low Earth orbit with a 45-degree inclination (LEO).

Vikram 1 will be next to Vikram S and its payload capacity at polar orbit is estimated at 290 kg (640 lb) its low orbit capacity can be 480 kg (1,060 lb), and is determined to be the first launched in around Q3 2023.

Vikram II will be next to Vikram 1 and third in the series and still not much is known about it to the public. It is thought to carry a payload of    400 kg at polar and at low orbit 595 kg. Its launch date are yet to be determined.
Vikram III will be last in the series and is estimated to carry a payload of 560 kg at polar and 815 kg on low orbit. Not much is confirmed about the dates of launch about it.