Skyroot puts first private rocket in orbit & India in elite club; Vikram-1 delivers 6 payloads after 35-minute delay
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket launched into low Earth orbit from Sriharikota on July 19, 2026, after a 35-minute delay.
The mission, named Mission Aagaman, placed six payloads into a 450-km orbit at 60-degree inclination.
India became the third country with private orbital launch capability following the United States and another nation.
Skyroot was founded by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka.
The launch marks 46 years after ISRO's SLV-3E2 placed the Rohini satellite RS-1 into orbit in 1980.
Story angle
Center-right
Mostly straight facts, with a light government- or market-friendly tilt.
About how the story is framed, not whether the facts are true.
Times of India
Center-right
Mixed factuality
Who owns this?
Times Group
Bennett, Coleman & Co. (Sahu Jain family)
India's largest newspaper group by circulation.
Wikipedia: Sahu Jain family