India launches first privately built orbital rocket

India marked a milestone in its space industry on Saturday with the launch of its first privately built orbital rocket. The Vikram-1 rocket, developed by Skyroot Aerospace, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an island off the coast of Chennai. The mission was a test flight designed to demonstrate the rocket's ability to carry small satellites into low-Earth orbit. The company announced the successful launch on social media, celebrating the achievement. The event signals India's ambitions to capture a larger share of the global commercial space market, which is dominated by a few countries and private companies. Skyroot Aerospace is one of several Indian startups working to provide affordable satellite launch services. The government has been pushing for more private sector involvement in space activities to boost the country's space economy. The launch was met with cheers from the team and observers. This is a significant step for India, which already has a strong state-run space program, as it opens the door for more commercial launches in the future.