Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 reached orbit on July 18, 2026, becoming India's first privately developed orbital rocket. The mission, named Aagaman, lifted off from Sriharikota at 12:05 pm IST, about 35 minutes after its scheduled time, and placed its payloads in an orbit of about 450 km.
Key facts
- Date: July 18, 2026, from Sriharikota
- Mission name: Aagaman
- Orbit: about 450 km; reports say six payloads reached the target orbit
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team
Why it matters
India is now the third country, after the United States and China, where private companies have carried out orbital launches. Skyroot's earlier Vikram-S suborbital flight in November 2022 was the first privately built Indian rocket to reach space.
What happens next
Skyroot has said it plans a second test flight before starting commercial launches.
Frequently asked questions
When did Vikram-1 launch?
On July 18, 2026, from Sriharikota.
Did Vikram-1 reach orbit?
Yes. It placed its payloads in an orbit of about 450 km.
Sources: Business Today, ETV Bharat, Starlust.
Correction (October 26, 2026): This article was first written before the launch. It has been updated with the mission result, and a duplicate post has been merged into it.
