Assam Engineer Ved Prakash Leads Development of India's First Private Orbital Rocket

Guwahati: Ved Prakash put Assam on the space map. The Guwahati-born engineer helped build Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket. It launched on July 18, 2026. The Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace built the vehicle.

Prakash served as a Mission and Guidance, Navigation and Control engineer. He spent four years on the project. He fine-tuned the algorithms and software that kept the rocket on track. The GNC system monitors the rocket's position, velocity, and orientation. Its flawless performance ensured the craft reached its intended orbit.

Skyroot Aerospace calls Vikram-1 a four-stage, expendable small-lift vehicle. It uses solid fuel for the first three stages. A liquid engine powers the fourth. The debut mission, named Aagaman, carried a special payload. It held a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This flight establishes India as a top player in the commercial satellite market.

Prakash is the son of former Oil India Limited Director Dr. Manas Sarma and Bintyma Sarma. He grew up in Duliajan. He studied mechanical engineering at KIIT University. Later, he earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University. He started a PhD during the pandemic but quit to build rockets at home. He joined Skyroot in 2022. "Ved is the only Assamese member of the team behind the historic mission," according to reports on the project.