India launches first private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket following space reforms
Space reforms have unleashed innovative potentials of startups with 102 working in cutting-edge areas of space debris management, nano-satellite, launch vehicle, ground systems and research among others, Minister of State for Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on 18 Nov 2022.
“Within a short span of time, from a couple of Space Start-ups three-four years back, today we have 102,” he said after the launch of India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket to by ISRO.
Underlining importance of having opened Space Sector in 2020 for private participation, he said “Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made history 18 Nov 2022 by launching successfully India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket.
“Mission Prarambh is successfully accomplished”.
The launch from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, has put India among the frontline Space Powers of the World and many aspiring countries will look forward to take cues from Indian expertise, he said.
He described “This as a major milestone after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unlocked the Space Sector in India two years ago for private participation.”
Vikram-S is a single stage fuel rocket meant to test most systems and processes in Skyroot Aerospace’s project ahead of the launch of Vikram-1 next year.
The rocket goes to the max altitude of 81.5 kilometres and splashes into the sea and the overall duration of launch is about 300 seconds only.
Dr Jitendra Singh noted that Skyroot was the first StartUp to sign a MoU with ISRO for launching its rockets.
He pointed out that apart from being the nation’s first private launch, it is also the maiden mission of Skyroot Aerospace, named “Prarambh”.
Skyroot Aerospace said that Vikram-S makes history as the first private rocket of India to grace the skies.
It carried a total of three payloads in space, including one from the foreign customers. fiinews.com
