PM Modi Unveils India’s First Private Orbital Rocket
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and unveiled Vikram-I, India’s first privately-built orbital rocket capable of launching satellites into space.
Key Takeaways
- Vikram-I is India’s first private orbital rocket with satellite launch capability
- Skyroot’s new 200,000 sq ft facility can produce one orbital rocket monthly
- Founders are IIT alumni and former ISRO scientists
- Company made history in 2022 with Vikram-S sub-orbital launch
Skyroot’s Manufacturing Hub
The state-of-the-art Infinity Campus spans approximately 200,000 square feet, providing comprehensive workspace for designing, developing, integrating and testing multiple launch vehicles. The facility represents a significant boost to India’s private space manufacturing capabilities.
Skyroot, founded by Pawan Chandana and Bharath Dhaka – both IIT alumni and former ISRO scientists – made history in November 2022 by launching Vikram-S, becoming the first Indian private company to reach space.
Aviation Sector Advancements
In a related development, PM Modi also inaugurated Safran Aircraft Engine Services’ new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Hyderabad. This marks another milestone in India’s aviation growth story.
The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s aviation sector is expanding at “unprecedented pace,” with the country now being the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market and among the fastest-growing globally.
PM Modi noted a significant shift from past dependency, where “85 per cent MRO work was done on foreign land,” leading to high costs and extended aircraft grounding periods. The new Safran facility at GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park will strengthen India’s position as a global MRO hub.
“The aspirations of the people of India are reaching the skies,” PM Modi stated, urging investors to join India as co-creators in the journey toward a developed nation.
