India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, is scheduled to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.
Developed by the private space launch company Skyroot Aerospace, the seven-story-tall rocket features a carbon composite structure, 3D-printed engines, and solid-fuel boosters.
This test flight intends to deliver six technology demonstration payloads—along with artwork pieces and a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi—into a 450-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The mission has received necessary launch clearance from the government agency IN-SPACe, and the entire flight sequence is expected to last 15.46 minutes across 14 distinct phases to gather crucial real-flight performance data.
