In a defining moment for the Indian space industry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and unveiled the Vikram-I rocket—India’s first fully private, commercial orbital launch vehicle. This event, held on November 27, 2025, is far more than a corporate milestone; it is the ceremonial beginning of a new, competitive era for the nation in the final frontier, firmly establishing India as a key player in the global private space race.
The Infinity Campus: The Engine of India’s Private Space Ambition
The Infinity Campus is not just a building; it is a statement of intent. Spanning a massive 200,000 square feet near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, this facility is designed to be the production powerhouse for India’s private space industry.
Its capabilities are formidable:
- Advanced Manufacturing & Testing: Housing cutting-edge equipment for building and rigorously testing rocket components.
- High-Volume Production: With a capacity to produce one rocket per month, it transitions space vehicle manufacturing from a slow, artisanal process to a scalable, industrial one.
- Economic Catalyst: The campus is expected to generate over 1,000 high-tech jobs and represents an investment of ₹1,000 crore, creating a vibrant ecosystem around it.
This infrastructure is the bedrock upon which Skyroot’s promise of “on-demand launches” will be built.
The Vikram-I Rocket: A Technical Powerhouse
Named in honor of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program, the Vikram-I is a testament to the engineering prowess of Skyroot’s team. Its specifications reveal a vehicle designed for the booming small satellite market:
- Class: A four-stage, all-carbon-fiber vehicle, making it light and strong.
- Height: 17 meters tall.
- Propulsion: Features 3D-printed hypergolic engines and the massive Kalam-1200 booster, which holds the title of India’s largest private solid rocket motor.
- Payload Capacity: Can deploy up to 350 kg to a 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or 260 kg to a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
This capability makes it an ideal vehicle for both rideshare (carrying multiple small satellites) and dedicated missions, serving the needs of defense, earth observation, and commercial clients.
The Founders’ Journey: From ISRO Labs to Infinity
The story of Skyroot is one of deep expertise meeting entrepreneurial ambition. Founded in 2018 by Pawan Kumar Chandana (CEO) and Naga Bharath Daka—both IIT alumni and former ISRO scientists—the company has followed a meticulous path. Their success in 2022 with the Vikram-S mission, India’s first privately developed rocket to reach space, was a crucial suborbital demonstration that paved the way for this orbital leap.
The Strategic Imperative: Easing ISRO’s Load and Building an Economy
The rise of Skyroot and other private players is a strategic necessity for India. It serves two critical purposes:
- Freeing ISRO: By taking over the responsibility of commercial small satellite launches, private companies like Skyroot allow the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to focus its resources on ambitious, exploratory missions like Gaganyaan (human spaceflight), interplanetary missions, and advanced R&D.
- Building a $77 Billion Economy: The Indian space economy is projected to reach $77 billion by 2030. This growth will be driven not by a single entity, but by a vibrant ecosystem of over 350 private space startups, each specializing in different aspects of the value chain, from launch vehicles and satellites to data analytics and applications.
A Vision Endorsed from the Top
Prime Minister Modi’s personal involvement in the inauguration underscores the national importance of this achievement. His declaration that “Infinity Campus reflects India’s new thinking, innovation, and youth power – we’re building a competitive space economy!” frames Skyroot’s success as a national triumph. It is a powerful endorsement of the government’s IN-SPACe reforms, which were designed specifically to enable such private sector participation.
Conclusion: The Orbit is Now Open for Business
With the Vikram-I unveiled and its maiden flight from Sriharikota slated for early 2026, the message to the world is clear: India’s private space sector is open for business. As co-founder Naga Bharath Daka stated, “Vikram-I unlocks skies for startups worldwide.”
For satellite companies, both Indian and global, a new, reliable, and cost-effective launch option is on the horizon. For founders in spacetech, Skyroot’s journey is a blazing trail, proving that with the right mix of talent, technology, and policy support, even the sky is not the limit. The orbit, once the exclusive domain of governments, is now a new marketplace, and India has just announced its arrival.