Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday welcomed the successful launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, describing it as a landmark achievement for the country’s space industry and innovation ecosystem.
Congratulating Skyroot Aerospace, which developed the launch vehicle, Sarma said the mission reflected the growing capabilities of Indian entrepreneurs and technological innovators.
“The launch of Vikram-1 represents a new pinnacle both for India’s space industry and the limits of entrepreneurial possibilities. My compliments to the entire @SkyrootA team as they launch India’s first private orbital launch vehicle,” he said in a post on X.
The chief minister said the mission underscored the progress made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that for India’s innovators, investors and entrepreneurs, “the sky is not the limit, deep space is”.
Vikram-1, a four-stage orbital launch vehicle standing about seven storeys tall, successfully deployed its primary technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot’s SCOPE into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit during its maiden mission.
The rocket also carried a micro-art payload, including an 18-carat gold rocket and a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the message “Vande Mataram”, along with postcards from engineers, scientists and Indian astronauts.
Highlighting the mission’s technological significance, Sarma said Vikram-1 is India’s first all-carbon composite orbital rocket powered by a 3D-printed engine. He noted that the launch would strengthen the country’s private satellite launch capabilities while testing technologies aimed at addressing the growing challenge of space debris.
The chief minister also observed that the launch took place exactly 46 years after the historic flight of India’s SLV-3, calling it a fitting tribute to the generations of scientists and engineers who laid the foundation of the country’s space programme.
