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Skyroot Targets Second Vikram-1 Rocket Launch by 2026-End
Skyroot Aerospace is an Indian company that builds rockets.
Its Vikram-1 rocket reached orbit and released satellites on its first try on July 18, 2026.
The company wants to launch Vikram-1 again by the end of 2026.
Engineers are studying the first flight to decide what improvements are needed.
The first stage of the next rocket is already at the spaceport in Sriharikota.
Skyroot also plans to invest Rs 250 crore in Tamil Nadu near a future spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam.
The company says it will choose between the two spaceports based on the orbit customers need.
It hopes to conduct more launches for customers around the world.
Skyroot Aerospace is targeting the second launch of its Vikram-1 rocket by the end of 2026.
The rocket’s first stage has been shipped to the Indian Space Research Organisation spaceport in Sriharikota for preparations.
The company is completing post-flight analysis of Vikram-1’s July 18, 2026, orbital mission before finalizing the next launch schedule.
Skyroot plans to invest Rs 250 crore in Tamil Nadu infrastructure for rocket testing and integration near Kulasekarapattinam.
The company expects to use Sriharikota for low- and mid-inclination missions and Kulasekarapattinam for high-inclination, southward launches.
- Who
- Skyroot Aerospace, led by Co-Founder and CEO Pawan Chandana.
- What
- The company is preparing a second launch of its Vikram-1 rocket and planning launch infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.
- Where
- Preparations are taking place at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, with future launches also planned from Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
- When
- The second launch is targeted for the end of 2026; the first launch took place on July 18, 2026.
- Why
- Skyroot wants to improve launch capacity, serve global customers, and use different spaceports for different orbital requirements.
Key facts
- Company
- Skyroot Aerospace
- Rocket
- Vikram-1
- Second launch target
- By the end of 2026
- First orbital launch
- July 18, 2026
- Tamil Nadu investment
- Rs 250 crore, approximately $26 million
- Planned Tamil Nadu site
- Kulasekarapattinam spaceport
- Global market share
- Skyroot estimates 70–80% of its market is global
Quotes
Pawan Chandana
Skyroot Aerospace co-founder and chief executive officer
“As of now, both spaceports have good launch capacity... As we keep launching further, we will think about having our independent launch pad, but the existing launchpads are good enough for a large number of launches”
wionews.com
“In global launches, there is a lot of gap...There is a lot of increased interest in launches”
wionews.com
Sources
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