Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket has successfully entered orbit. It is India’s first private orbital-class rocket. With this mission named ‘Mission Arrival’, India has become the third country in the world to have a private orbital launch capability.
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) [भारत]July 18 (ANI): Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has successfully reached orbit, marking the maiden flight of India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on this successful launch.
The rocket completed its final firing and placed its payload into an orbit of about 450 km, making India the third country in the world to have a private orbital launch capability. This mission named ‘Mission Arrival’ was completed from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Mission journey and technology
The 24-metre long carbon-composite rocket completed all planned phases of flight, including stage separation and firing of its Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM). The Orbital Adjustment Module fired its 3D-printed liquid engine for the final push into orbit. This module is designed to start, stop and restart in space.
During flight, Kalam-1200, which has a solid first stage, took the rocket through the densest part of the atmosphere and then separated cleanly. The payload fairing was then separated, bringing the satellites into contact with space for the first time.
The second stage, Kalam-250, completed its firing and separated, followed by ignition of Vikram-1’s smallest and highest-flying solid stage, Kalam-100. The solid-propulsion phase ended with the separation of Stage 3, paving the way for the Orbital Adjustment Module to complete the mission.
Features and payload of Vikram-1
The Vikram-1 rocket, powered by three solid-fuel stages and a Liquid Orbital Adjustment Module, is designed to deploy payloads of up to 350 kg to a 450-km low Earth orbit (LEO).
This first flight included several payloads, including ‘Diamond Lotus’, a lab-grown diamond from Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds.
The payload sent on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 included a very special thing – a handwritten postcard of PM Modi with ‘Vande Mataram’ written on it. It has traveled to space with handwritten messages from the Skyroot team, investors, policy makers and well-wishers across the world, making ‘Mission Arrival’ a celebration held by many hands and shared by millions. (ANI)
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