New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy flagged off the Vikram-1 rocket from Skyroot’s Max-Q campus in Hyderabad, in the presence of Telangana IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu, and other dignitaries. This marks the completion of the pre-flight integrated test campaign by the Hyderabad-based New Space startup, Skyroot Aerospace. In November 2022, Skyroot conducted a test flight of the Vikram-S, the first privately built launch vehicle from India. This was a suborbital flight test. Since then, Skyroot has been conducting a thorough ground test campaign, ahead of the inaugural orbital flight of the Vikram I rocket.
The flight-ready Vikram I was unveiled at Skyroot’s Infinity Campus in November 2025. This is a sprawling integrated rocket manufacturing and testing facility spread across 20,000 square feet, located close to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. This is a new facility that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. The Max-Q facility, where the flag off ceremony took place, is the headquarters of Skyroot, spread across 60,000 square feet. The Vikram I rocket was supposed to launch in February 2026, but has been delayed by a few months. Skyroot eventually plans to increase the launch cadence to at least one orbital flight every quarter.
The Vikram I rocket
Vikram I uses three stages, Kalam-1200, Kalam-250 and Kalam-100. The third stage uses a cluster of four 3D printed Raman engines. The lower stages use solid fuel, while the upper stage uses liquid propellant. The entire rocket is a carbon composite structure. Vikram I is capable of carrying 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit, and 260 kg to a Sun-synchronous orbit. Skyroot aims to cater to the burgeoning demand for deploying small satellites, with affordable, on-demand rides to space. The goal is to make deploying a satellite as easy as booking a cab, and Skyroot aims to be a rocket-hailing and rocket-pooling provider.