ANI |
Updated: Jul 18, 2026 13:44 IST
New Delhi [India], July 18 (ANI): Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Saturday hailed the successful launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket constructed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, calling it a “proud moment for every Indian” and a serious milestone for the nation’s personal house sector.
Speaking to ANI, Singh stated the launch wouldn’t have been attainable with out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s determination 5 to six years in the past to open the house sector to personal gamers.
“I would say congratulations, India. Every Indian is feeling proud, and, of course, congratulations to Skyroot for having become the first-ever private player to have executed this launch from Sriharikota. But let’s not forget, most of all, the credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Had he not taken that courageous, out-of-the-box decision about five or six years back to unlock the space sector and open up the gates of Sriharikota to private players, we would not have witnessed this event today. Because the launch wouldn’t have happened, Skyroot wouldn’t have been there,” he instructed ANI.
The Minister stated the launch vindicated the PM’s determination, pointing to a “quantum leap” in India’s house financial system and startups in simply half a decade.
“And today, we feel vindicated in Prime Minister Modi’s decision because, in just half a decade, there has been a quantum leap both in the space economy and in the number of space startups. Also, in five years’ time, a very brief period, we have produced one unicorn, which is none other than Skyroot itself,” he added.
In a put up on X, Singh congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch of Vikram-1, calling it “India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle.”
“Congratulations to #SkyrootAerospace on the successful launch of #Vikram1, India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The mission marks a major milestone for India’s expanding private space sector and reflects the nation’s growing capabilities in space technology and rising Space economy. This achievement is yet another significant step towards strengthening India’s position as a global space power,” Jitendra Singh wrote on X.
Singh stated India’s house financial system had grown considerably and was anticipated to broaden additional within the coming years.
“From a modest space economy, today we are close to USD 9 billion and hope to go up to almost 40-45 billion in less than a decade. Today’s successful launch is a reiteration of India’s entry as a global player in the highly competitive arena of the space economy. May India rise higher and higher,” he stated.
Meanwhile, at Skyroot’s facility in Sriharikota, staff described the launch as an emotional end result of years of labor.
“It is a very happy and proud moment for me. My heart is pumping like anything. It has been eight long years; our young engineers were working together closely. It is a carbon composite motor casing… It is lightweight,” he instructed ANI.
Another worker stated, “Our hearts were pounding like anything. The delay took our hearts… We are so happy. Everyone put their heart and soul into this project.” A 3rd worker added, “We are very, very happy to see the launch of the first Indian private rocket into orbit. Hard work speaks. Everything went well…”
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has efficiently reached orbit, marking the maiden flight of India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket.
The rocket accomplished its remaining burn and injected its payloads into an almost 450-km orbit, making India the third nation on the planet with personal orbital launch functionality.
The mission, named “Mission Aagaman”, was executed from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The 24-metre carbon-composite rocket accomplished all deliberate flight phases, together with stage separations and the firing of its Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM). (ANI)