India launches 1st privately built rocket into suborbital space

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched Vikram-S, the country's first privately developed rocket, in a suborbital mission on Friday.

The rocket has been named after Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of India's space program.

“The lift-off of the first Vikram-S rocket started at 11:30 am (0600GMT) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Andhra Pradesh. The launch vehicle has been named so as a tribute to the father of the Indian Space programme, the late Vikram Sarabhai,” said an official statement.

"Mission Prarambh is successfully accomplished," the ISRO tweeted after the launch of Vikram-S.

The rocket, developed by an Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace, and the mission has been named "Prarambh," which translates to an auspicious start.

The 6-meter-tall Vikram-S soared to an altitude of around 81 kilometers (50.33 miles) after its launch from the space center, said the statement.

The Vikram-S rocket carried payloads of two Indian and one foreign customer.

The launch vehicle is equipped with telemetry, tracking, GPS, an onboard camera, data acquisition, and power systems, it added.

Skyroot was the first startup to sign a letter of intent with ISRO to launch its rockets.​​​​​​​