Mission Prarambh, A First Private Rocket Launch of India
Today is an important day for India’s Space Programme. First time, a rocket built by a private company—Skyroot Aerospace—has been successfully launched in the Indian Space Research Organization’s Sriharikota Launchpad. Name after India’s well-known physicist and astronomer Vikaram Sarabai, the Vikram-S majestically entered into the space. The Startup owned by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka (former ISRO Engineers) took just only 2-years to complete this ambitious rocket with the use of advanced technologies like carbon composite structures and 3-D printed component.
According to the Skyroot, “Vikram-S will help test and validate majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of orbital class space launch vehicles, including many sub-systems and technologies that will be tested across pre liftoff and post liftoff phases of the launch,” the Hyderabad-headquartered company people said. Furthermore, the engine used in the launch vehicle is named after our former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. The performance of the ‘Kalam-80 engine’ will be one of the key components that the company will monitor during the flight of the Vikram-S.
Apart from that, Vikram-S will carry three satellites, including one by SpaceKidz India called FunSat, parts of which were developed by school students. Overall, the Vikram rockets will be able to carry between 290 kg and 560 kg payload into sun-synchronous polar orbits. Regarding the entry of private players in the space sector in India, ISRO chairperson S Somanath said on Thursday that around 100 start-ups have registered with the space agency and are working closely with it in “various domains of the space sector”.
Ever since the Modi Government opened the space segment for the private players in 2020, the Indian Private Space industry scenario looks very promising and expected to grow further in the coming year with the successful launch of the mission ‘Prarambh’ of Skyroot Aerospace.
By
Special Correspondent
INSTANEWSGRAM