INDIA INC.MEANS BUSINESS IN SPACE

WITH ISRO AS MENTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR INTEREST IN SATELLITE-LINKED OPPORTUNITIES SOARS. CAN INDIA GRAB A BIGGER SLICE OF THE GLOBAL SPACE ECONOMY?

- Joe C. Mathew

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2022, Vikram-S, a sub-orbital rocket of Skyroot Aerospace, made its maiden flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It was India’s first privately-built rocket launched from a government facility. For the Hyderabad-based startup, the rocket, built using advanced components such as carbon composite structures and 3D-printed parts, validated over 80% technologies that will be used in its Vikram-1 orbital vehicle, planned for launch in 2023. Sub-orbital vehicles travel high enough to reach the edge of outer space but do not have the energy to achieve orbit.