Former ISRO Scientists Launch India's Privately Built Rocket to Orbit

Two former scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have successfully launched India's first privately built rocket into orbit. Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both graduates of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), co-founded Skyroot Aerospace. The company recently sent its Vikram-1 rocket into space, making Skyroot India's first space startup to achieve unicorn status (valued at over $1 billion). The duo worked at ISRO before venturing into the private space sector. They started Skyroot Aerospace in 2018 with a vision to make space more accessible. The Vikram-1 rocket is designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit. The successful launch marks a significant milestone for India's private space industry, which has been growing since the government opened the sector to private players in 2020. Skyroot's achievement highlights the talent and innovation emerging from India's space ecosystem. The company plans to offer affordable launch services for commercial and government customers. With this launch, Chandana and Daka have demonstrated that private companies can compete alongside established space agencies.