Skyroot Aerospace: From Two Dreamers to India’s Private Rocket Trailblazer
- Vansh Arora
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
In a world where space once belonged only to government giants like ISRO and NASA, two engineers dared to dream differently — and they’re now rewriting India’s space story, one rocket at a time.
Meet Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based startup that has gone from a wild idea to a national milestone — becoming the first private Indian company to launch a rocket into space. And this? This is just the beginning.
From ISRO Engineers to Startup Founders: How It All Began
Back in 2018, two young minds — Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka — were working quietly at ISRO. But they couldn’t ignore a thought that kept growing louder: What if launching satellites didn’t take years? What if private players could build rockets too?
So, they took the leap.
They founded Skyroot Aerospace with one clear vision — to make space more affordable, accessible, and exciting. Fast forward to today, and they’re backed by a 350+ member team of scientists and engineers, pooling in over 2,000 years of combined experience in rocketry.
Fueling the Dream: Investments & Global Partnerships
Rocket science isn’t cheap. But belief? That’s powerful.
Skyroot started with $1.5 million in seed funding. Then came $11 million in Series A in 2021. And by 2023, they secured $27.5 million from Temasek, a Singapore-based firm. In total, they’ve raised a staggering $95.5 million — the highest for any Indian space startup.
They didn’t stop there.
They signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with ISRO, and shook hands with global partners like Prométhée and ConnectSat in France — showing the world that India’s private sector is ready to launch satellites across continents.
The Day History Was Made: Vikram-S Launch (Nov 18, 2022)
Remember this name: Vikram-S — the rocket that broke barriers.
Under the mission Prarambh (meaning Beginning), Skyroot launched India’s first privately built rocket. It soared 90 km high, carried three mini-payloads, and came back down flawlessly.
Height: 6 meters
Weight: ~545 kg
Altitude Reached: ~90 km (Sub-Orbital)
Payloads: 3 small satellites
Outcome: Flawless success!
Even Prime Minister Modi called it a “historic moment.” That’s how big it was.
Not Just Rockets — They’re Building the Whole Engine Room
One launch isn’t enough. Skyroot’s aim is bigger — to build India’s most powerful and reusable rocket engines.
Here’s what they’ve already achieved:
Nov 2021: Tested Dhawan-I, India’s first private cryogenic engine using eco-friendly fuels (LNG + LOX).
March 2024: Tested Kalam-250, the second stage of the upcoming Vikram-1 rocket.
April 2025 (early): Fired up Kalam-100, with a special moving nozzle for better in-flight control.
April 2025 (late): Pre-flight test of Kalam-1200, their most powerful stage yet.
Translation? Vikram-1 is almost ready — and this time, it won’t just go to the edge of space... it’s aiming for orbit.
What’s Next? One Rocket a Month — Then One a Day!
Skyroot is about to enter its most exciting chapter: Vikram-1 — a three-stage rocket that can carry 480 kg into low Earth orbit. It’s made from carbon composites (light but super strong), and all its parts have now been tested.
But they’re already dreaming bigger:
Vikram-2: Will use the cryogenic Dhawan-I engine to carry heavier satellites.
Vikram-3: Still in design — made for even larger missions.
Their ultimate goal? Launch one rocket every month — and eventually, one rocket every day.
From Earth observation to IoT and communication satellites, Skyroot wants to become the go-to space partner for the world.
More Than Rockets — A New Era for Indian Space with Skyroot Aerospace
Skyroot isn’t just building rockets — they’re building hope, ambition, and belief. They’ve shown that with vision, knowledge, and grit, even two young engineers can take on the stars.
And that’s exactly what India needs — more dreamers, more doers, more risk-takers.
So... What About You?
If Skyroot’s journey lit a spark in you — maybe you’ve got an idea too. A startup plan. A tech project. Something that just might change the world.
At SK Associates & Group, we help students like you transform your ideas into purpose-driven startups — with the right mentorship, training, and support.
Register for our Student Entrepreneurs Bootcamp here and win the golden opportunity to grow your business into an upcoming Unicorn!
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