India successfully launches first private rocket

Vikram-S, a rocket developed by startup Skyroot, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on November 18.

During the launch, Vikram-S reached a maximum altitude of 89.5 km. This 545 kg rocket landed in the waters of the Bay of Bengal about 5 minutes after launch. The successful test marks a major milestone in the country's efforts to create a cost-competitive and commercial space industry.

The Vikram-S is expected to be able to reach Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound, and carry 83 kg of cargo to an altitude of 100 km. During the first launch, the Skyroot team of experts set a goal of flying 80 km high. This is the threshold defined by some agencies as the boundary of space. In addition, another conventional boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and space is the 100 km high Karman line.

Skyroot aims to cut development costs by up to 90% compared to existing platforms for small satellite launches. The company hopes to achieve this cost savings by using a rocket structure that can be assembled in less than 72 hours using composite materials. Skyroot plans to start launching satellites from next year.

The Indian government is promoting the development of a private space industry to supplement the state space program, which is famous for its low-cost missions and launches. India's 2014 crewless Mars mission cost only $74 million and gained attention because it cost less than the hit movie "Gravity".

Vikram-S is named after Vikram Sarabhai, the physicist and astronomer considered the father of the Indian space program. Skyroot, founded in 2018, is the first space startup to sign a contract to use ISRO's launch and test facilities. The company has raised $64.42 million in capital and has about 200 employees. In which, nearly 100 people participated in the first launch project.