India’s private space industry is preparing for a major milestone as Skyroot Aerospace gets ready to attempt its first orbital rocket launch.

The Indian space technology company plans to launch its Vikram-1 rocket from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) launch facility in Sriharikota.

Skyroot Aerospace recently became India’s first space technology unicorn after reaching a valuation of $1.1 billion.

The seven-storey Vikram-1 rocket is designed to carry payloads into Low Earth Orbit, approximately 450 kilometres above Earth. The planned flight is expected to last around 16 minutes.

If successful, Skyroot would become the first Indian private company to launch a rocket into orbit, marking a major milestone for India’s growing commercial space sector.

The achievement would also place India among a small group of countries with private companies capable of orbital launches.

Skyroot’s long-term vision is to make access to space as convenient as booking a taxi. The company describes this idea as a “cab service to space”, allowing businesses to hire rockets to deliver satellites to specific orbital locations or potentially support missions to space stations.

The company is also exploring innovative applications for its rockets, including the possibility of carrying valuable materials such as diamonds.

A successful Vikram-1 mission could strengthen India’s position in the global commercial space race and open new opportunities for satellite launches and private space missions.