Skyroot Aerospace and India’s Journey Towards a Thriving Private Space Sector

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad via video conferencing and unveiled India’s first private orbital rocket, Vikram-I, capable of launching satellites into orbit. This event marks a significant milestone in India’s rapidly growing private space sector, reflecting the country’s ambition to become a global leader in space technology.

From Two Engineers to India’s First Private Orbital Rocket

Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka with a team of barely 10 people working out of a small office. Seven years later, the company employs over 350 engineers and has built India’s largest private rocket factory – the 6-acre Infinity Campus that was inaugurated today.
The Vikram-I rocket family (named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme) uses a unique all-carbon-fibre body, 3D-printed engines, and innovative propulsion stages. The maiden flight is targeted for early 2026 from Sriharikota, carrying customer satellites into precise sun-synchronous orbits.

300+ Startups and a $380 Million Private Space Economy

The numbers tell a dramatic story:
2014 → 1 space startup in India
2025 → More than 300 active space startups
Cumulative private investment → Over ₹3,000 crore ($380 million)
Projected Indian space economy by 2033 → $44 billion (according to IN-SPACe and Arthur D. Little)
Companies like Skyroot, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, Bellatrix Aerospace and Digantara are building everything from launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles to hyperspectral Earth-observation satellites and space situational awareness systems.

Reforms That Changed the Game

The Prime Minister credited a series of bold policy decisions:
1. Creation of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) in 2020 as a single-window agency for private players
2. 100% FDI allowance in satellite manufacturing and launch services
3. Liberalised geospatial data policy
4. Upcoming Indian Space Policy 2023 and Space Activities Act
5. ₹1 lakh crore Anusandhan National Research Foundation fund for deep-tech R&D
“Earlier, space was considered only a government domain. Today, private companies are building rockets, satellites, and even planning space stations,” PM Modi noted.

A Strategic Asset for the 21st-Century India

The Prime Minister underlined how space has become indispensable:
1. Communication: 5G/6G backhaul, direct-to-mobile broadband
2. Agriculture: Precision farming and crop insurance
3. Disaster management: Real-time flood and cyclone monitoring
4. Urban planning: Smart cities and infrastructure mapping
5. National security: Border surveillance and secure military communications
With global demand for small-satellite launches exploding (over 18,000 smallsats expected to be launched this decade), India’s cost advantage and proven reliability give it a unique edge.

The Next Frontier: Private Nuclear and Deep-Tech Push

In a surprise announcement, PM Modi revealed that the government will soon open India’s nuclear energy sector to private participation, especially for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and advanced nuclear technologies – a move that could mirror the space sector’s liberalization.
He also highlighted continuing initiatives:
1. ₹1 lakh crore research fund over five years
2. 10,000+ Atal Tinkering Labs in schools
3. Quantum Mission, Semiconductor Mission, and National Deep Tech Startup Policy

A New Generation Takes Flight

Perhaps the most inspiring part of today’s event was the presence of dozens of Gen-Z engineers – many in their mid-20s – who left high-paying jobs at global tech giants to build rockets in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
As one Skyroot engineer told reporters after the ceremony, “We grew up watching ISRO’s PSLV launches on Doordarshan. Today, we are building the next chapter ourselves.”

The Road to 2030 and Beyond

With Vikram-I poised for its debut flight, Agnikul’s Agnibaan already in advanced testing, and several Indian startups booking rides on foreign rockets while preparing their own, India is sprinting toward a future where multiple private orbital launch vehicles fly every year.

Conclusion 

The inauguration of Skyroot’s Infinity Campus and the unveiling of Vikram-I signal a new era in India’s private space sector. With strong government reforms, youth-driven innovation, and growing private investment, India is positioning itself as a global hub for space technology, combining strategic, economic, and technological advantages.