On a morning in July, a countdown at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre was stopped due to a technical problem. The launch was delayed by 35 minutes. On the launchpad was a rocket that was special for India. Inside, there were unique items: a small gold sculpture, a lotus flower made of diamond, and a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When the rocket finally launched on July 18, 2026, it flew into the sky. About 15 to 18 minutes later, it reached its orbit 450 kilometers above Earth.
With this successful flight, Skyroot Aerospace achieved something new for India. The mission, called Mission Aagaman, made India the third country where a private company has successfully sent a rocket into orbit. Only companies from the United States and China had done this before.
The rocket is named Vikram-1, honoring Vikram Sarabhai, who started the Indian space program. This launch happened exactly 46 years after India's first independent satellite launch in 1980.
The rocket carried six payloads, including satellites named SCOPE and Grahaa. Skyroot Aerospace celebrated online, saying, "Hello space, we have arrived!"
The company started in 2018 when two former scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) decided to create their own company. They had tested a smaller rocket in 2022 that went into space but not into orbit. By 2026, their startup was valued at one billion dollars.
The rocket uses modern materials and technology, including parts made using 3D printing. It is designed to carry up to 350 kilograms into orbit.
Pawan Kumar Chandana, one of the founders, said that reaching orbit on the first try is very difficult. He called the event a historic moment for space exploration, noting that Indian engineers built the entire rocket.
This launch also shows a big change in India's economy. For many years, ISRO controlled all space activities. But after government reforms in 2020 and new policies in 2023, private companies were allowed to enter the space sector. Now, there are over 400 private space companies in India, compared to only a few years ago.
Government agencies like ISRO and IN-SPACe helped Skyroot Aerospace with technical advice and facilities. Prime Minister Modi congratulated the founders, saying their success would inspire young people and showed India's ability to be self-reliant.
Skyroot Aerospace plans more test flights before starting regular commercial flights. But their first mission has already made history.