Skyroot plans to offer ‘hail rocket’ model

The company is running final tests on its systems, including static fires, separation trials, and pressure tests across multiple locations in India. The rocket will be integrated at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota before its launch later this year.

"The experience we are bringing to the space launch industry is like a cab service: Satellite operators can book a launch as and when they need it, and we will get them to their exact destination in space," said Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO and co-founder of Skyroot Aerospace.

Vikram-1, which is built to deliver payloads of up to 480 kg into a 500 km low-inclination orbit, is part of a modular series of launch vehicles named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Unlike conventional rockets that require extensive infrastructure, it has been designed for rapid assembly and launch within 24 hours from any site.

"Rocket science is unforgiving. Even the tiniest deviation in one part can have a significant impact. That’s why very few companies globally have succeeded in launching a rocket," said Chandana. The team follows an iterative cycle of designing, testing, and refining to reach the level of confidence required for flight.

One of the most recent developments has been the successful test of Kalam-250, the rocket’s second-stage engine. The company has also conducted static fires of Stage-2 and Stage-3 solid motors, validated the upper-stage liquid engine Raman-II, and completed reaction control system tests. "Data from these tests are positive and meet flight criteria. There are a few major tests that we are looking forward to in the coming weeks and months, including the payload separation test and Stage-1 static fire test," Chandana said.

Hyderabad has played a crucial role in Skyroot’s journey. The city’s aerospace and defence industries, along with its skilled workforce, have provided the support needed for the company’s expansion. "Hyderabad has a thriving ecosystem of manufacturers and suppliers with valuable experience working with the space, defence, and aviation industries. This ecosystem of industries and technical talent has been instrumental in scaling up Skyroot Aerospace from a small set-up in 2018 to now establishing multiple state-of-the-art rocket factories in Hyderabad," Chandana said.

The company has also begun working on rockets with greater payload capacities and is considering reusability. "Vikram-1 will be our workhorse launch vehicle, with multiple launches scheduled over the years. The rocket is designed such that we can iterate and manufacture it rapidly. Simultaneously, we are also working on future launch vehicles with greater payload (satellite mass) capacity," Chandana said.

The study was conducted for just 11 days, from May 29 to June 10, 2023. The amount of waste sent for recycling in these 11 days equates to saving carbon emission that more than two cards would generate.