Vikram S set for lift-off: Giant leap for Indian pvt sector in space

• Vikram-S is India’s first privately developed rocket and is all set to be launched as part of the Prarambh space mission.

Features

• It is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle which would carry three customer payloads and help test and validate the majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of space launch vehicles.
• It was developed by the Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace.
• The Prarambh mission is aimed at carrying three payloads into space, including a 2.5-kilogram payload that has been developed by students from several countries.
• Skyroot’s launch vehicles are named ‘Vikram’ as a tribute to the founder of the Indian space program and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.

Vikram Mission

• They come in three forms, Vikram I, II, and III.
• Vikram S-to be launched during the Prarambh mission is like a preliminary version of these rockets.
• While Vikram I, II, and III use solid or a combination of solid and cryogenic propellants in several stages, Vikram-S is single stage vehicle.

Significance of the mission

• With this mission, Skyroot is set to become the first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space.
• It is heralding a new era for the space sector which was opened up in 2020 to facilitate private sector participation.
• The Prarambh mission was extensively supported from ISRO and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre).