India's Skyroot launches Vikram-1, first private rocket to reach orbit

Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched its Vikram-1 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 18 July 2026, placing it into a 450‑km low‑Earth orbit after a 35‑minute countdown delay. The seven‑storey, carbon‑composite vehicle carried multiple technology‑demonstration payloads and marked India’s entry into the exclusive club of nations with private orbital launch capability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and space officials hailed the mission as a defining moment for India’s emerging commercial space sector.