Vikram-S: India’s first private rocket goes into space today | India News – Times of India
Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to launch India’s first privately built rocket, Vikram-S, from Sriharikota at 11.30 am on Friday. Union space minister Jitendra Singh will also remain present at the launch centre to witness the historic lift-off.
Here’s all you need to know about Vikram S:
- The rocket is named after
Vikram Sarabhai , considered the father of India’s space programme. - Vikram S — built by Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace — is a small-lift launch vehicle and the first of the series of three rockets. India’s space industry was liberalised in June 2020 to allow for private sector’s participation.
- Vikram rockets could be assembled and launched in less than 72 hours.
- Under the mission, named ‘Prarambh’ (the beginning), Vikram-I will carry payloads of two Indian and one foreign customers into space from the launchpad at Sriharikota. The overall duration of the launch is only 300 seconds.
- Vikram-S is a single-stage spin-stabilised solid propellant rocket, built on upgradeable architecture with carbon composite and 3D-printed motors, with a mass of approximately 550 kg.
- The rocket will go to a maximum altitude of 101 km and splashe into the sea.
- Its technology offers unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion, interplanetary missions while providing customised, dedicated and ride-share options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs.
What is a sub-orbital mission?
A sub-orbital spaceflight is when a spacecraft leaves the gravitational field from which it was launched and travels through space on a trajectory that crosses the atmosphere or surface of that body. The spaceflight is unable to complete revolving an orbit. Sub-orbital missions are aimed at lower altitudes than an orbit. These are considered crucial as experimentation before the launch of a spacecraft in an actual orbit.
Skyroot Aerospace
The startup was set up in mid-2018. It has been developing solid, liquid and cryogenic rocket stages for its Vikram series rockets for two years.
