India’s Space Startups Build on ISRO’s Blueprint

India’s space agency, ISRO, spent many years learning how to build rockets and satellites.

Private companies are now using some of that knowledge, equipment, and experience to build their own space businesses.

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 rocket reached orbit on its first flight, an important step for these companies.

The countdown briefly stopped because of a software problem, but engineers fixed it and launched the rocket.

New government rules have made it possible for private companies to own and operate space missions.

Many companies can use India’s existing factories, but some special parts and skills are still hard to find locally.

So they are developing new technology themselves or buying parts from other countries.

Their next challenge is to build reliably and compete around the world.