Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Launches India's First Private Orbital Rocket 'Vikram-1' Under Mission Aagaman

 Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Launches India's First Private Orbital Rocket 'Vikram-1' Under Mission Aagaman

• Who: Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace Pvt Ltd.
• What: Successfully launched Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital-class launch vehicle under 'Mission Aagaman ' from SDSC-SHAR Sriharikota, AP.[arrival]
• Significance: India becomes 3rd country after USA and China to achieve private orbital launch capability following Indian Space Policy 2023.
• Vehicle: Four-stage, seven-storey-tall Vikram-1 successfully injected all payloads into 450 km LEO at inclination 60 degrees on maiden flight.
• Payloads: Skyroot's in-house SCOPE payload, Grahaa Space's SOLARAS S3 tech demo satellite, Cosmoserve Space's "Embrace" robotic arm for debris removal, Germany's DCUBED payloads [uD3PP and mD3RN], Cosmic Bloom - lotus artwork made from lab-grown diamonds + 18-karat gold micro-rocket containing microscopic sculptures of Sir C.V. Raman, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam + handwritten postcard by PM Modi bearing "Vande Mataram" + hundreds of postcards from scientists, engineers.
• UPSC Relevance: GS3 - Space, Private sector, Space economy, IN-SPACe.
• Prelims: Vikram-1 named after Vikram Sarabhai.