Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket completed India's first privately developed orbital launch on Saturday, placing satellites into a 280-mile-high orbit after liftoff from Sriharikota Island.
The 72-foot-tall Vikram-1 lifted off at 1:35 am EDT from India's primary spaceport on Sriharikota Island in the Bay of Bengal. The solid-fueled booster ignited after a half-hour delay, followed by three solid stages and a liquid-fueled fourth stage that reached orbital velocity.
Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana called the flight a "grand success" and said, "We achieved one of the biggest milestones ever in India’s space sector." Indian space agency ISRO provided facilities and launch pad access for the mission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team, stating that the achievement would encourage youngsters to dream bigger. The rocket released its payloads as planned, exceeding the company's initial goal of clearing the launch tower.
Skyroot, founded in 2018, has raised about $160 million and employs more than 1,000 people. A second Vikram-1 flight is planned before the end of the year.
