Prime Minister Modi Celebrates Successful Launch of India's First Private Rocket
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first private rocket. This historic event is seen as a pivotal moment in the nation's space exploration efforts, showcasing the potential of the private sector in fostering innovation. Modi's message highlights the importance of self-reliance in India's space endeavors. The launch, which took place under challenging weather conditions, successfully deployed several satellites and a unique gold miniature rocket into orbit. This achievement is expected to inspire the youth of India to pursue their dreams in the field of space technology.
| Jul 18, 2026, 15:14 IST
Historic Launch of Vikram-1 by Skyroot Aerospace
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the entire team at Skyroot Aerospace following the successful launch of India's first private space rocket, Vikram-1. He described this event as a significant milestone in India's space journey. In a post on 'X', he noted that the increasing involvement of the private sector is paving new paths and fostering innovation. This achievement is expected to inspire countless young individuals to dream big and innovate fearlessly.
On Saturday, Modi spoke with Pawan Kumar Chandana, the CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, and co-founder Naga Bharat Daka, extending his congratulations for their remarkable achievement. Both executives were present at the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Mission Control Center during the launch. Modi expressed his heartfelt wishes, hoping that their 'Mission Arrival' continues to succeed in the future.
He emphasized that this mission demonstrates India's potential for self-reliance. Chandana informed the Prime Minister that the rocket was entirely designed and manufactured in India. He also mentioned a postcard featuring the message 'Vande Mataram', which was successfully taken to a low Earth orbit 450 kilometers away. 'Vande Mataram' is now in orbit around the Earth.
The mission was conducted by the Hyderabad-based private company Skyroot Aerospace, which termed it a 'great success'. The Vikram-1 rocket, standing as tall as a seven-story building, launched successfully at 12:05 PM from the country's first launch pad, despite cloudy weather. During the launch, orange smoke billowed from the rocket, marking the beginning of a new era for the space center. The launch had initially been delayed due to a potential issue with the navigation system, pushing the launch time from the scheduled 11:30 AM to 12:05 PM.
After takeoff, small satellites and instruments from clients like Graha Space, Cosmoserve, DQube, and Skyroot were sequentially deployed into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 450 kilometers for technical testing. The rocket also successfully delivered a miniature artwork, a tiny rocket made of 18-carat gold, along with a postcard handwritten by Prime Minister Narendra Modi featuring the message 'Vande Mataram'.