Vikram-1 launch: PM Modi hails success of India’s maiden private rocket

Mission Aagaman marks a breakthrough for India's fast-growing commercial space sector

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Skyroot Aerospace after India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, successfully reached orbit, marking a historic milestone for the country's space sector.

Skyroot Aerospace, which recently became India's first space tech unicorn after reaching $1.1bn valuation, is all set to launch Vikram-1 from the Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro) launch facility in Sriharikota in southern India.

Lifting off from an island north of Chennai, the Vikram-1 rocket signals India’s plans to take a larger share of the market for commercial rocket launches.