Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history on November 18 by launching successfully India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket.
Key points
- The launch of Vikram-S, a suborbital launch vehicle from Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, was accomplished successfully on November 18, 2022, at 11:30 am IST from the sounding rocket launch complex at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- The mission was authorized by IN-SPACe.
- The launcher reached an altitude of about 89.5 km in 155 seconds, as planned. This sounding rocket carried three payloads.
- The launch has put India among the frontline Space Powers of the World and many aspiring countries will look forward to take cues from Indian expertise.
- Vikram-S is a single stage fuel rocket meant to test most systems and processes in Skyroot Aerospace’s project ahead of the launch of Vikram-1 next year.
- The rocket goes to the max altitude of 81.5 kilometres and splashes into the sea and the overall duration of launch is about 300 seconds only.
- Skyroot was the first StartUp to sign a MoU with ISRO for launching its rockets.