India’s first commercially constructed rocket, the Vikram-S, successfully launched on November 18, 2022, from the Sriharikota spaceport, heralding the entry of the private industry into the nation’s space industry, which Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has ruled for years. This development is considered a breakthrough in the space industry.
Vikram-S launched at 11.30 am on the “Prarambh” mission (the beginning). The rocket, carrying three payloads weighing 83kg, ascended to a height of 81.5km around 2.3 minutes after liftoff. The rocket landed in the Bay of Bengal at a distance of approximately 115.6 kilometres from Sriharikota after 4.84 minutes.
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The payloads, fitted with instruments for measuring momentum, pressure, and other variables, were produced by Space Kidz India and N-Space Tech India. According to NDTV, Skyroot said Vikram-S was a single-stage sub-orbital rocket powered by solid-fuelled propulsion. The rocket was built using advanced technologies, including carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components.
“Vikram-S will help test and validate the majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of orbital class space launch vehicles, including many sub-systems and technologies that will be tested across pre-liftoff and post liftoff phases of the launch,” the Hyderabad-headquartered company said. Moreover, It is the first Indian firm to establish an MoU with Isro for a rocket launch into space is Skyroot.
Development of the Rocket
Vikram-S was designed by a team of 200 engineers in a record-breaking two years. It has advanced avionics, solid-fuel propulsion, and a carbon fibre core structure.
According to Skyroot Aerospace, the rocket launch will aid in testing and validating the central part of the advanced technology in the Vikram series of orbital class space launch vehicles, including numerous sub-systems and technologies that will be tested during the launch’s pre-lift off and post-lift off stages.
Among the world’s first handful of all-composite rockets, the six-meter-tall rocket contains solid thrusters that were 3D printed for spin stability. The Vikram-S rocket, with a body weight of 545 kg, a length of 6 m, and a diameter of 0.375 m, is one of the most reasonably priced rockets worldwide.
According to Hindustan Times, Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), called it a “milestone” and “a new era” in the space history of India with a private player witnessing a successful launch. “This is a new beginning for the private players with this entry in the space sector,” he asserted.
This happened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi allowed private businesses to enter the space industry in June 2020. Amidst the push for the “Make-in-India” programme, the government had referred to it as a significant reform. Earlier this week, union minister Jitendra Singh tweeted, “Following PM @narendramodi’s decision to open Space sector for private participation, India all set to make history by launching from Sriharikota the first-ever private Rocket “Vikram-S” developed by #StartUp “Skyroot Aerospace” under the guidance of #ISRO. #OpeningSpaceForAll (sic).”
