Ananya Lohia , New Delhi - India scripted a historic milestone in its space journey on Saturday as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country's first privately built orbital rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The successful mission makes India one of the few nations with private companies capable of independently reaching orbit.

The 24-metre, four-stage Vikram-1 rocket lifted off at 12:05 pm and successfully placed multiple payloads into a 450-km low Earth orbit about an hour later. Designed and manufactured entirely in India, the carbon-composite launch vehicle is powered by a 3,200-horsepower propulsion system and can carry payloads of up to 350 kg. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mission as a "historic new frontier" for India's space programme, saying it reflects the success of the country's space sector reforms and the Make in India initiative.

Founded by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot Aerospace described the launch as the beginning of its commercial orbital launch programme. The mission carried technology demonstration payloads from several Indian startups, along with a symbolic gold rocket featuring micro-sculptures of C.V. Raman, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Vikram Sarabhai, as well as a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Modi. The company said data collected during the flight will help validate the rocket's performance ahead of future commercial missions.

The successful launch of Vikram-1 marks a landmark moment for India's private space industry, showcasing the country's growing technological capabilities and strengthening its ambition to become a global leader in commercial space exploration.