Assam CM Celebrates India's First Private Rocket Launch

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated the July 18 maiden flight of Vikram-1. This is India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. It stands seven storeys tall and features a four-stage design. The rocket uses an all-carbon composite body and a 3D-printed engine.

Skyroot Aerospace built the craft. Sarma congratulated the firm for hitting a new mark for national innovation. He wrote on X, "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."

The rocket hit a 450-km Low Earth Orbit. It carried payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed, and Skyroot's own SCOPE. It also hauled an 18-carat gold rocket, a micro-art payload, and postcards from engineers and astronauts. One postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi read Vande Mataram. Sarma linked this progress to the leadership of Modi and suggested deep space is the next target.

The mission tested tech to manage space debris. It adds strength to the nation's private satellite launch goals. The flight occurred 46 years to the day after the SLV-3 mission. Sarma called it a tribute to the scientists who built India's space foundation.