Vikram-S: India’s first private sector rocket

vikram

India’s first privately developed rocket, Vikram-S, is set for launch between November 12 and 16.

Vikram-S

Vikram-S is India’s first privately developed rocket and is all set to be launched as part of the Prarambh space mission.
It is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle which would carry three customer payloads and help test and validate the majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of space launch vehicles.
It was developed by the Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace.
The Prarambh mission is aimed at carrying three payloads into space, including a 2.5-kilogram payload that has been developed by students from several countries.
Skyroot’s launch vehicles are named ‘Vikram’ as a tribute to the founder of the Indian space program and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.

With this mission, Skyroot is set to become the first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space.
It is heralding a new era for the space sector which was opened up in 2020 to facilitate private sector participation.
The Prarambh mission was extensively supported from ISRO and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre).

The establishment of IN-SPACe was announced in June 2020.
It is an autonomous and single window nodal agency in the Department of Space for the promotion, encouragement and regulation of space activities of both government and private entities.
It also facilitates the usage of ISRO facilities by private entities.
It comprises technical experts for space activities along with safety expert, academic experts and legal and strategic experts from other departments.
It also comprises members from PMO and MEA of Government of India.

Roles and Responsibilities

Space activities including building of launch vehicles and satellites and providing space based services as per the definition of space activities.
Sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of ISRO with due considerations to on-going activities.
Establishment of temporary facilities within premises under ISRO control based on safety norms and feasibility assessment

How is it different from ANTRIX?

Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL), Bengaluru is a wholly-owned Government of India Company under the administrative control of the Department of Space.
It is as a marketing arm of ISRO for promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.
Antrix is engaged in providing Space products and services to international customers worldwide.

What about New Space India Limited (NSIL)?

It functions under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DOS).
It aims to commercially exploit the research and development work of ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS.
The NSIL would enable Indian Industries to scale up high-technology manufacturing and production base for meeting the growing needs of the Indian space program.
It would further spur the growth of Indian Industries in the space sector.