Skyroot Aerospace
India's first private rocket maker, building the Vikram series
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Overview
Skyroot Aerospace is a private Indian launch company founded in 2018 in Hyderabad by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. It was among the first private space-tech startups to emerge after India opened its space sector to commercial players, and it develops the Vikram family of small satellite launch vehicles.
The company's flagship products are the Vikram-series rockets. Vikram-S is an all-carbon-composite suborbital technology demonstrator, while Vikram-1 is its first orbital-class small-satellite launch vehicle, designed to carry roughly 260 kg to a 500 km sun-synchronous polar orbit. A larger Vikram-2, using cryogenic Dhawan-series engines, is in development for a later debut.
On 18 November 2022 Skyroot launched Vikram-S on the suborbital Mission Prarambh from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, making it the first privately developed rocket launched from India. As of 2026 the company has not yet reached orbit; it is a well-funded, operational startup, became India's first space-tech unicorn in May 2026, and is preparing the maiden orbital flight of Vikram-1.
Timeline
- 2018
Company founded
Skyroot Aerospace was founded in Hyderabad by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka.
- 2020
First private rocket engine fired
Skyroot test-fired Raman and Kalam-series engines, marking India's first static fire of a privately built rocket stage.
- Nov 2022
Vikram-S suborbital flight
Mission Prarambh launched Vikram-S to about 89 km, the first privately developed rocket launched from India.
- Aug 2025
Vikram-1 booster static test
The Kalam-1200 first-stage solid motor for the orbital Vikram-1 was successfully static-fired at Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
- May 2026
India's first space-tech unicorn
A US$60 million funding round lifted Skyroot's valuation to about US$1.1 billion as it prepared for Vikram-1's orbital debut.
Frequently asked questions
Rockets
Vikram-I
1 launch