India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket Vikram-1 set to liff off on July 18

India’s first privately developed orbital class rocket, Vikram-1, will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota on July 18, 2026.

Private space launch company Skyroot Aerospace has announced that on Thursday, July 16, 2026, it will attempt to launch Vikram-1 from the spaceport’s first launch pad at 11:30 am.

“We have done everything that can be done to test Vikram-1 on the ground. On July 18, we are looking forward to seeing how Vikram-1 performs in a real flight environment for the first time. This is our first test flight and we will get valuable data from it. This will form the basis of Skyroot’s desire to establish a launch tempo. We are excited to achieve this,” said Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace.

Skyroot said all stages of Vikram-1 have been successfully integrated and stacked on the launch pad. Following this, final integrated checks of the vehicle on the launch pad from Skyroot’s launch control center, interface checks with all telemetry ground stations and tracking radars were completed.

Vikram-1 is a seven-story, long, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle built with an all-carbon composite structure and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters. Designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the first test flight aims for a 450 km orbit with a 60° inclination.

Vikram-1 will carry technology demonstration payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve, DCubed and Skyroot’s own SCOPE, as well as Cosmos Diamonds’ “Cosmic Bloom” artwork and a micro-artwork.

“The small satellite launch market is deeply constrained on the supply side. At the same time, the demand for services provided by satellites in space will also continue to grow and therein lies Skyroot’s opportunity. The approval of Vikram-1 for flight after rigorous testing is a decisive milestone in India’s space journey. This first test flight marks the beginning of Skyroot’s ambition to open up space for everyone,” Mr. Chandana said.

Skyroot Aerospace Co-Founder and COO Naga Bharath Daka said the launch represents the hopes and hard work of nearly 1,000 people, contributions from over 400 suppliers and nearly 3,000 days of commitment to create a global offering from India.

“This test flight will show us how every technology we have developed over the years performs in real-world conditions. With the in-flight data collected from this mission, we will return to the production floor to learn, improve and build more. This test flight is the first step in creating a reliable, on-demand launch company for the world from India,” he said.