Meet Vikram-1, India's indigenous seven-storey rocket set to launch in 2024

The Vikram-1 rocket was unveiled on Tuesday. The indigenous orbital rocket, the brainchild of Skyroot Aerospace, is set to be launched in 2024.

An incredibly proud moment as we reveal the Vikram-I orbital space launch vehicle, graced by Hon. MoS @DrJitendraSingh, visiting our new headquarters, the MAX-Q, which is potentially one of the world's largest private rocket factories under a single roof. Our Vikram-I, a… pic.twitter.com/qIisJnzDib

— Skyroot Aerospace (@SkyrootA) October 24, 2023

Skyroot Aerospace last year launched its Vikram-S rocket on 18 November – making it the first space start-up to have launched a private rocket from the ISRO station at Sriharikota. But what do we know about Vikram-1? Let’s take a closer look: The Vikram-1 rocket will deliver satellites into low earth orbit. As per DNA, It is a multi-stage launch vehicle that is seven storeys high. It has the capacity to put around a 300-kilogramme payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The rocket’s body is made entirely of carbon fibre.

More from Explainers

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar Giorgio Armani will: Who will get the inheritance? What happens to his fashion empire?

It can place multiple satellites into orbit. As per Hindustan Times, Skyroot claims it is one of the few rockets with the ability to do so. The Vikram-1 has 3D-printed liquid engines. As per The Hindu, the Vikramis employs a combination of solid fuel at the lower stage and a mixture of liquid fuel in the upper stages to send the rocket into orbit. The rocket is planned to be launched in early 2024. The rocket could be sent into orbit between February and April – after two crucial tests are slated to be conducted. “Depending on these tests, we will go ahead. We are aiming to gather more data through observations during the first launch and so we are not going to have the full payload capacity of 300 kilos,” Skyroot CEO Pawan Chandana said. Vikram-I will be Skyroot’s second rocket after its Vikram-S rocket. This rocket, like its predecessor, is named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai – the father of India’s space programme. [caption id=“attachment_13297072” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Skyroot was formed in 2018 by two IITians. This will be the company’s second launch after the Vikram-S in November 2022. Image courtesy: @SkyrootA[/caption] The company has claimed that the Vikram-1 can be put together and sent into orbit within a day from any launch site, as per DNA. Skyroot was formed in 2018. As per The Times of India, the company is headed up by Chandana and Naga Bharat Daka – both IITians. Space, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, after unveiling the rocket, also inaugurated ‘The MAX-Q Campus’, the new headquarters of the start-up at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park at Mamidipally in Hyderabad. “Every rocket, during its travel to space, has to push through a point of maximum stress called ‘Max-Q’. Our MAX-Q headquarters serves as a powerful symbol of our unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and accomplishing the extraordinary, all-in pursuit of our mission to Open Space For All,” Pawan Chandana, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace said. “Vikram 1 will be the multi-stage launch vehicle to the low earth orbit and will be a scaled-up version of our first successful rocket launch ‘Vikram S’ last year where we had successfully tested our technology becoming the first private firm in the country to have the capability to launch the rocket into space,” Chandana was quoted as saying by The Hindu. “We plan to test three commercial launch vehicles, and we are confident of getting the first commercial rocket into orbit successfully. Many satellite firms are taking the risk of putting their satellites on the rocket despite being the maiden one because there are only a few companies across the world with this kind of orbital capability and access to space is difficult,” Chandana added. ‘Example of India’s superlative talent’ Skyroot’s new headquarters houses integrated design, manufacturing and testing facilities for building space launch vehicles, and design space for the 300-member strong workforce. “Skyroot is not only an example of India’s superlative talent and scientific acumen but it also has a message for all of us that a huge potential was lying dormant for several decades before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came and broke the taboos of the past and opened India’s Space Sector for Public Private Partnership (PPP),” Singh said. “The success of Skyroot is an inspiration to India’s vast youth talent pool aspiring to set up their own start-up ventures, especially in new and emerging sectors including space, bioTech, agriculture and energy,” Singh added. The unveiling of Vikram-1 space launch vehicle on the same day as the company’s new headquarters inauguration is a moment of great pride, said Bharath Daka, Co-Founder and COO of Skyroot. “Our design prowess and cutting-edge home-grown technology have been integral to the creation of Vikram-1. As we eagerly prepare for the early 2024 launch, we will keep sharing further updates on the orbital mission with Vikram-1,” Daka said. With inputs from agencies