Skyroot Aerospace, the Indian startup behind the aerospace venture, is poised to carve a niche in the annals of history. The startup is gearing up to launch its maiden Vikram-S rocket into space between 12th and 16th November 2022, marking it as India’s first privately made rocket under the ‘Prarambh’ mission. This significant development in the field of space technology is keenly anticipated and represents a new chapter in Indian space exploration.
Skyroot Aerospace: Boldly Going Where No Startup Has Gone Before
Skyroot Aerospace is an ambitious startup based in India. Its core focus is on the aerospace business, where it seeks to redefine the norms and open up new avenues for future innovations. Its upcoming endeavour, the launch of the Vikram-S rocket, is set to be a game changer for the Indian space industry.
Unraveling the Identity of Vikram-S
Vikram-S is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle. This implies that the rocket is capable of reaching outer space but does not possess the requisite speed to maintain a stable orbit around the Earth. Its mission includes carrying three customer payloads into space. The launch is set to play a pivotal role in testing and verifying a majority of the technologies employed in the Vikram series of space launch vehicles.
Under the umbrella of the Vikram series, Skyroot has developed three distinct rocket versions. The first in line, Vikram-I, has a launching capacity of 480 kilograms of payload. Subsequently, Vikram-II is designed to bear an increased weight of up to 595 kilograms. Lastly, the Vikram-III boasts of a Low Inclination Orbit launch capability spanning 500 km with 815 kg onboard.
Understanding the Prarambh Mission
The Prarambh mission has been envisioned with a goal to transport three payloads into space, one of which weighing 2.5 kilograms has been crafted by students from several countries. This mission plays a central role in the launch of the Vikram-S rocket.
Highlighted as a key component of Skyroot’s strategy, the Prarambh mission is not a standalone endeavour. It is the product of extensive collaborative efforts with two major constituents of the Indian space research domain – the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre). Both these organizations have played an instrumental role in supporting the Hyderabad-based startup in realizing its vision and mission.
As India gears up for this monumental event, it underscores the country’s growing capabilities and ambitions in space technology and exploration. The successful launch of the Vikram-S will not only mark Skyroot Aerospace’s arrival on the global stage but also open new horizons in the commercial space sector.
