Chennai, Nov 18 (UNI) The Hyderabad-based Space Startup Skyroot
Aerospace, which became the first private player in India to successfully
launch its own rocket, on Friday dedicated the historic success to the
space reforms ushered in by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a tweet, Skyroot said "Skyroot dedicates today’s historic success of
India’s first private rocket launch to the space reforms brought in by the
vision of Hon’ Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. "
"We thank @isro and @INSPACeIND for their invaluable support towards
this landmark milestone", it said.
"We made history today by launching India’s first private rocket. It is a
symbol of new India, and just the Prarambh (beginning) of a great future.”
Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder Skyroot Aerospace said.
The rocket achieved 89.5 kms peak altitude. Vikram-S rocket met all the
flight parameters. It's history, he said.
Ecstatic with the maiden launch, Skyroot Aerospace Founders Pawan
Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in a joint statement said “We
are very excited to share that we scripted history today by successfully
launching India’s first privately developed rocket Vikram-S."
"This mission has been executed in record time only because of the
invaluable support we received from IN-SPACe and ISRO, and the
technology talent that we inherently possess", they said.
"Our pathbreaking mission, ‘Prarambh’ is dedicated to the Indian
Private sector, which has hugely benefitted from the reforms that
were guided by the Govt of India and its vision’’", they added.
The Vikram-S rocket flight is a technology demonstration flight to
showcase the capabilities of the company. The rocket will help
validate the technologies that will be used in the subsequent
Vikram-1 orbital vehicle of Skyroot that is planned for launch
next year, subject to technical clearance by IN-SPACe.
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center
(IN-SPACe) has been operating as a single-window, autonomous
nodal agency of Department of Space (DOS) to boost private
space sector economy in India.
It has given five authorizations to the Space NGEs for undertaking
space activities in India, in six months and signed Sixteen MoUs.
Till date, IN-SPACe has received more than 150 applications from
Space NGEs for Authorization, Facilitation, and Promotion. In their
continued efforts to give India’s space sector a new and dynamic
dimension, IN-SPACe’s enabling of Skyroot’s launch vehicle initiates
a new chapter in India’s space domain.
IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan K Goenka said “India holds tremendous
potential in space and has been an enabler of epoch-making space
missions for decades."
This maiden rocket launch for Skyroot Aerospace is perhaps the most
important milestone for the Indian private space sector since the space
reforms announced by the Union Government and hints at the rapid
transformative journey we’re witnessing in India’s space sector, he said.
"Though one small step, it is a giant leap to demonstrate the capabilities
of the Indian Space sector", he added.
"Heartiest congratulations to all involved in the success of ‘Prarambh’
mission. A new space journey has begun", he said.
The lift off of VIKRAM-S from Sriharikota happened at 11.30 IST today.
The ranging and tracking operations for VIKRAM-S were handled by
SDSC SHAR facility at ISRO. Telemetry data was captured by ISTRAC
station of ISRO and relayed to the control room.
The launch of the Skyroot VKS rocket has been possible with the seamless
joint efforts of various ISRO centres including SDSC SHAR, ISTRAC and
VSSC, Skyroot team and IN-SPACe.
The Technical Mission Readiness review committee members from ISRO
and IN-SPACe rigorously reviewed launch vehicle and integration preparation
and gave the final launch clearance.
UNI GV 1451