In a major development in India’s private space industry, the country’s first privately built rocket – Vikram-suborbital (VKS)- was launched by the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) on Friday.
Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a 4-year-old startup based in Hyderabad, the rocket has been named after Vikram Sarabhai, acknowledged as the father of the space sector in India.
Vikram-suborbital (VKS) was launched with support from ISRO and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre).
The launch took place from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota at around 11.30 am. Dr Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) said, “This is a new beginning for the private players with this entry in the space sector.”
The private rocket carried three payloads built by Andhra Pradesh-based N Space Tech India, Chennai-based startup Space Kids and Armenian BazoomQ Space Research Lab.