Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace's Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and unveiled the Vikram-I rocket, India's first privately developed commercial orbital launch vehicle, via video conferencing. The event marks a significant milestone for the Indian space sector, signaling the country's ambition to become a global leader in satellite launches.
The Infinity Campus is a state-of-the-art facility spanning 200,000 square feet, designed for the end-to-end development of launch vehicles, from design and integration to testing. It has the capacity to manufacture one orbital rocket per month, significantly enhancing India's launch capabilities. Skyroot plans to invest ₹1,000 crore to enhance its capabilities and achieve rapid, on-demand launch capabilities. The facility complements Skyroot's existing Max-Q Campus, a 55,000-square-foot integrated rocket design and development facility established in 2023.
Vikram-I, named after the father of the Indian space program, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, is designed to carry payloads of around 300 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The rocket features an all-carbon-fiber body for lightweight strength and can be assembled and launched within 24 hours from any launch site. A notable feature of Vikram-I is its ability to place multiple satellites into orbit simultaneously, a first for India's space sector. The four-stage rocket is 20 meters tall with a diameter of 1.7 meters and generates 1,200 kN of thrust. It is designed for dedicated launches, rideshare missions, and deploying satellites into multiple orbits during a single mission. Skyroot is targeting early 2026 for the maiden flight of Vikram-I.
PM Modi praised the entrepreneurship and innovation driving India's space growth, particularly by young engineers, coders, and scientists. He highlighted that over 300 space startups are now giving new vision and momentum to India's space ecosystem. He credited ISRO's decades-long contribution to building global trust in India's space capabilities, noting the country's space journey began with limited resources but unlimited ambitions.
The Prime Minister emphasized the government's commitment to reforms in the space sector, including opening it to private participation, enabling startups through IN-SPACe, and preparing a new national space policy. He noted that these reforms have transformed India's space sector into an open, cooperative, and innovation-driven ecosystem.
Skyroot Aerospace was founded by former ISRO scientists and IIT alumni, Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka. In November 2022, Skyroot launched Vikram-S, India's first private sub-orbital rocket, marking a pivotal moment in India's space history. Skyroot aims to capture a significant share of the multi-million-dollar small satellite launch market and has raised over $95 million, partnering with entities like Axiom Space to expand low-Earth orbit access. The Indian space economy is projected to grow to $77 billion by 2030.
