Skyroot Aerospace, the city-based rocket firm, is getting ready to launch its first commercial rocket ‘Vikram 1’, which is seven-storied high and has a payload capacity of up to 300 kgs, early next year. Already both Indian and global satellite firms have come on board for having their respective ‘nano or cube satellites’ on it, said founder CEO Pawan Chandana on Tuesday.
“Vikram 1 will be the multi-stage launch vehicle to the low earth orbit and will be a scaled up version of our first successful rocket launch ‘Vikram S’ last year (November 2022), where we had successfully tested our technology becoming the first private firm in the country to have the capability to launch the rocket into space,” he explained in an interaction at the new integrated design, assembling and manufacturing facility at GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park, Mamidipally, in Rangareddy district.
Union Minister of State for Space, Science and Technology, Atomic Energy and PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh had opened the new 60,000 sq. ft. Max-Q facility and also unveiled the Vikram 1 all-carbon-fibre bodied rocket that can place multiple satellites in orbit and features 3D printed liquid engines.
Skyroot Aerospace founders Pawan Chandana & Bharath Daka at their new Max-Q facility with Union Ministerfor Science & Technology Jitendra Singh in Hyderabad on October 24, 2023. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“We plan to test three commercial launch vehicles, and we are confident of getting the first commercial rocket into orbit successfully. Many satellite firms are taking the risk of putting their satellites on the rocket despite being the maiden one because there are only a few companies across the world with this kind of orbital capability and access to space is difficult,” he added.
Vikram 1, with a mixture of solid fuel at the lower stage and a mixture of liquid fuel in the upper stages to propel the rocket into the orbit, could be launched anytime between February and April as there are two crucial tests which are to be done in the next few months. “Depending on these tests, we will go ahead. We are aiming to gather more data through observations during the first launch and so we are not going to have the full payload capacity of 300 kilos,” he said.
Mr. Pawan said that Skyroot has been one of the few companies to have managed to scale up the rocket and it also has the cost advantage as well as the time factor on its side to be able to withstand the competition on a global scale as “we are forerunners”.
“Skyroot Aerospace has raised about ₹526 crore in capital till date and this should be good for the commercial launch,” the CEO said. “The future plan is to have its own testing facility here. Talks are on with the government,” he said.
The space firm has four facilities with the inauguration of the latest one, with a cumulative built-up area of 100,000 square feet, placing it as one among the largest rocket development facilities in the private sector globally.
