India's first privately developed orbital rocket Vikram-1 set for July 2026 launch

Launch Window: July 12 – August 4, 2026

India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket is ready for its maiden flight. Hyderabad-based private space launch company Skyroot Aerospace announced on July 2 that the launch window for Vikram-1’s first test flight, named Mission Aagaman, opens on July 12 and extends through August 4.

Test Flight-1 is targeted for no earlier than July 12, subject to:

• Completion of assembly and testing operations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
• Weather conditions
• Safety and range clearance

About Mission Aagaman

Skyroot Aerospace stated that Mission Aagaman — meaning “the arrival” — marks the company’s second mission. It follows the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S on November 18, 2022, which was the first private rocket to reach space from Indian soil.

The mission will be a partially commercial flight. Skyroot plans to begin full commercial operations after one or two successful orbital demonstrations.

“Joining the test flight is a mix of domestic and international customers,” the company said.

Technical Details and Objectives

All stages of Vikram-1 have been successfully integrated and stacked at the launch pad. The mission will gather critical data across:

• Propulsion
• Stage separation
• Guidance, navigation, and control
• Overall vehicle performance

The data will support Skyroot’s evolution into a commercially operational launch company.

About Vikram-1

| Feature | Details | |---|---| | Height | Seven storeys tall | | Structure | All-carbon composite | | Propulsion | In-house solid and liquid systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters | | Payload capacity | Up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) | | Target orbit | 450 km altitude at 60-degree inclination | | Design focus | Rapid manufacturing and high launch cadence |

The flight-ready rocket was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2025.

Statement from Leadership

“The single most important objective of Mission Aagaman is to capture real in-flight performance data from every system on Vikram-1. We want to understand how the vehicle performs from lift-off through every phase of ascent. This data cannot be fully replicated through ground testing. It will help us validate our designs, and inform subsequent vehicle development as we build a reliable, high-cadence commercial launch programme. The moment Vikram-1 lifts off, India’s private space industry will cross a threshold it has never crossed before.”

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— Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace