Skyroot Aerospace

Catalog — Rockets

• 2026

  Vikram-I

  Vikram-1 (also written Vikram-I) is a four-stage, expendable small-lift orbital launch vehicle developed by the Indian company Skyroot Aerospace. Its first three stages burn solid propellant, while the fourth acts as a liquid kick stage using nitrogen tetroxide and monomethylhydrazine for orbital insertion and fine adjustment manoeuvres. The vehicle is named after Vikram Sarabhai, widely described as the father of the Indian space programme. The rocket targets the small-satellite launch market: it can fly dedicated or rideshare missions, and Skyroot markets it as a responsive system requiring minimal launch infrastructure. Its airframe uses carbon-composite structures to cut structural mass, and the company has stated that the vehicle employs 3D-printed liquid engines and modular avionics. The second stage, called Kalam 250, has thrust vector control for steering, while the upper stage carries reaction-control thrusters for attitude control. The vehicle is active. Its maiden flight, the Aagaman mission (Sanskrit for 'arrival'), lifted off on 18 July 2026 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and successfully placed its payload into low Earth orbit, making India the third country with a private orbital launch capability after the United States and China. Skyroot described the mission as a test flight and said further test flights would precede routine commercial service; a Vikram-1U configuration with additional solid rocket boosters is also planned.