The success of Mission Aagaman, the maiden flight of Vikram‑1, would mark the arrival of India’s private orbital launch capability.
Hyderabad‑based Skyroot Aerospace has announced the launch window for the maiden test flight of its Vikram‑1 rocket, India’s first privately developed orbital‑class launch vehicle. Test Flight‑1, named ‘Aagaman’ (Sanskrit for Arrival), is targeted for no earlier than July 12, subject to assembly, testing, and range clearances at the iconic Satish Dhawan Space Centre–Sriharikota (SDSC‑SHAR), off the Andhra Pradesh coast. The window extends until August 4.
A successful mission would mark the dawn of India’s private orbital launch capability.
Skyroot Co‑founder & CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana said, “The single most important objective of Mission Aagaman is to capture real in‑flight performance data from every system on Vikram‑1. We want to understand how the vehicle performs from lift‑off through ascent. It will help us validate our designs and inform subsequent vehicle development as we build a reliable, high‑cadence commercial launch programme.”
This is Skyroot’s second mission after the successful suborbital flight of the Vikram‑S sounding rocket in November 2022. The upcoming flight will be partially commercial, with payloads from both domestic and international customers.
The Vikram‑1 rocket was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2025 at Skyroot’s Infinity campus. Standing seven storeys tall, it is a multi‑stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all‑carbon composite structure and powered by in‑house propulsion systems, including 3D‑printed engines and high‑thrust solid‑fuel boosters. Designed to carry satellites up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the maiden mission will target a 450 km orbit with a 60‑degree inclination.
Orbital Breakthrough
All stages of Vikram‑1 have been integrated and stacked at the launch pad. The mission will gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control, and overall vehicle performance, supporting Skyroot’s evolution into a commercially operational launch company.
Co‑founder & COO Naga Bharath Daka added, “With Vikram‑S in 2022, we validated the foundation of our technology stack. With Vikram‑1, we take our biggest step yet towards a reliable, high‑cadence launch programme built in India, for India and the world.”
For India, reliable orbital access is a strategic capability held by only a handful of nations. Skyroot’s ‘Cab to Space’ model aims to provide dedicated, precise, and affordable launch opportunities, reducing bottlenecks for satellite operators.
Founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot became India’s first spacetech unicorn, with a valuation of $1.1 billion, in May this year.
India’s space economy, currently valued at $8.4 billion, is projected to grow to $44 billion by 2033. Indigenous private launch capability will be a critical enabler of this growth, signalling investor confidence and the maturity of India’s commercial space ambitions.