India has reached a historic milestone after private space company Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched its Vikram-1 rocket into orbit.
The mission marks the first time a privately developed Indian rocket has placed payloads into low Earth orbit.
With the achievement, India joins the United States and China as countries with private companies capable of orbital rocket launches.
Vikram-1 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying six payloads for commercial customers.
The successful mission is being hailed as a major boost for India’s fast-growing private space industry and commercial launch ambitions.
At the same time Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Skyroot team, describing the launch as a landmark moment to India’s space sector.
The breakthrough is expected to strengthen India’s position as a result, in the rapidly expanding global space economy.
