A Historic Milestone for India’s Commercial Space Renaissance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s remarkable Infinity Campus on November 27, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in India’s transformation as a confident and capable global space power. Conducting the ceremony via video conferencing, the PM unveiled Vikram-I, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, signalling the nation’s accelerated shift toward a thriving commercial space ecosystem that rivals global competitors. This ceremonial event transcends the mere inauguration of a facility; it represents the crystallization of strategic government reforms, entrepreneurial vision, and technological innovation that have fundamentally reshaped India’s space sector over the past five years.
The Infinity Campus, a sprawling state-of-the-art facility spanning 200,000 square feet in Hyderabad, stands as a testament to India’s commitment to enabling private-sector leadership in space exploration and commercialization. Located in the heart of the nation’s aerospace hub, this facility embodies the transformative potential of India’s private space industry and its role in strengthening the country’s global competitiveness.
The Infinity Campus: Manufacturing Excellence Redefined
Skyroot Aerospace’s newly inaugurated Infinity Campus represents a paradigm shift in India’s approach to rocket manufacturing and space infrastructure development. The facility has been meticulously designed to house end-to-end capabilities for designing, developing, integrating, and testing multiple launch vehicles. This comprehensive in-house capability distinguishes Skyroot from many global counterparts that rely on distributed manufacturing networks.
The campus boasts a production capacity of one orbital rocket per month, a capability that positions Skyroot among the world’s most efficient small-lift launch vehicle manufacturers. This manufacturing throughput represents a critical competitive advantage in a market characterized by explosive growth in small satellite demand. The monthly production rate underscores Skyroot’s confidence in market demand and its operational readiness to serve both domestic and international clients seeking reliable, cost-effective launch services for their satellite missions.
The facility embodies cutting-edge manufacturing practices, including India’s first all-carbon composite launch vehicles and 3D-printed rocket engines. These technologies represent significant departures from traditional manufacturing methodologies, reducing both production timelines and costs while enhancing rocket performance. CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana has emphasized that these innovations—carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components—ensure sustainability and profitability as Skyroot enters its commercial phase in 2025.
Vikram-I
The unveiling of Vikram-I constitutes the centerpiece of this milestone event, representing India’s entry into the elite club of nations capable of producing indigenous private orbital-class launch vehicles. Unlike its predecessor, Vikram-S (the sub-orbital rocket launched in November 2022), Vikram-I is engineered specifically for placing operational payloads into orbit, fundamentally expanding the scope of commercial space activities available to Indian and international operators.
Vikram-I is engineered as a four-stage rocket system comprising three solid-fuel stages powered by the Kalam-1200 first-stage engine and the Kalam-250 second-stage engine, with an optional fourth liquid-fuel stage for advanced mission profiles. The first stage, Kalam-1200, represents Skyroot’s largest hardware achievement to date, measuring 1.7 meters in diameter and 10 meters in length. Successfully cast and cured using multi-axis, high-precision robotic machines powered by proprietary software, this stage generates a peak thrust of 120 tons and utilizes ultra-light, high-strength carbon composite materials capable of withstanding extreme combustion pressures exceeding 82.5 atmospheres.
The rocket’s payload capacity specifications demonstrate its suitability for the burgeoning small satellite market: Vikram-I is designed to deliver 290 kilograms to a 500-kilometer Sun-synchronous polar orbit (SSPO) and 480 kilograms to a 45-degree inclination in 500-kilometer low Earth orbit (LEO). These specifications position Vikram-I competitively within the small-lift launch vehicle category, addressing the critical market segment of microsatellites and small satellites that constitute an increasingly significant portion of global satellite launches.
The rocket incorporates Raman engines specifically engineered for final orbital adjustments, providing flexibility in achieving precise mission profiles. The integration of propulsion technology, guidance systems, and structural innovations reflects Skyroot’s commitment to combining cutting-edge technology with cost optimization—a differentiation strategy critical in a nascent commercial market.
Development Milestones and Technical Achievements
Skyroot’s pathway to Vikram-I unveiling has been marked by systematic technical validation and incremental achievement. The company successfully conducted a test firing of its solid rocket stage demonstrator “Kalam-5” on December 22, 2020, achieving a 24-second burn duration and demonstrating 5.3 kilonewtons of peak thrust. Subsequently, on July 4, 2023, Skyroot completed the carbon-fiber winding and curing of the Stage-1 motor case for Vikram-I, establishing a new company benchmark for hardware manufacturing precision. The proof pressure test conducted on December 18, 2023, subjected the Kalam-1200 stage to extreme combustion pressures, validating the structural integrity of carbon composite construction methodologies.
By February 2025, Skyroot had commenced testing of the carbon composite payload fairing for Vikram-I and initiated integration of different rocket components across multiple facilities nationwide. These parallel development tracks indicate an accelerated timeline toward operational readiness, with company projections targeting the maiden orbital flight for January-February 2026.
Architects of Innovation
Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 by Pawan Kumar Chandana (CEO and Co-founder) and Naga BharathDaka (COO and Co-founder), both alumni of India’s premier educational institutions and veteran scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This combination of academic excellence and deep space sector expertise positioned Skyroot uniquely to navigate the complexities of aerospace manufacturing and commercial space services.
Chandana’s professional trajectory exemplifies the migration of elite space-sector talent toward entrepreneurship and commercialization. During his nearly six-year tenure at ISRO, Chandana contributed to marquee projects including the LVM3 “Bahubali” rocket, which powered India’s ambitious Chandrayaan lunar missions. His expertise in avionics engineering and comprehensive understanding of rocket development processes provided the technical foundation for Skyroot’s strategic vision. Daka, conversely, specializes in integrating advanced technology solutions, bringing complementary capabilities in systems integration and technological synthesis.
The co-founders’ inspiration crystallized upon observing the global emergence of commercial space companies and recognizing a critical market opportunity: space exploration had to evolve from a predominantly governmental scientific pursuit to a commercially viable, accessible endeavor. This insight—combined with the historical recognition that India’s space sector had been constrained by government monopolies and limited private participation—motivated them to establish Skyroot with an explicit mission: “Open Space for All.”
The company commenced operations modestly in 2018 with a team of ten individuals, incubated within T-Hub and supported by T-Works, Hyderabad’s innovation ecosystem. This humble beginning contrasts dramatically with the current operational scale: Skyroot now employs 350+ professionals, operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and has attracted cumulative investments exceeding $95 million.
From Vikram-S to Vikram-I
The journey toward Vikram-I’s inauguration commenced in earnest with the successful launch of Vikram-S, the sub-orbital rocket, on November 18, 2022. This historic mission established Skyroot as the first Indian private company to launch a rocket to space, fundamentally legitimizing India’s private space sector in global markets and demonstrating technical competency comparable to established international competitors. The Vikram-S carried payloads from Space Kidz, Bazoomq, and N-Space Tech, reaching an apogee of 89.5 kilometers and validating critical subsystems and control architectures that informed Vikram-I’s design.
This accomplishment occurred within the context of transformative government reforms initiated in June 2020, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the historic opening of India’s space sector to private enterprise participation across all domains—satellite design, launch vehicle manufacturing, and ground station services. Subsequent establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) created a regulatory framework enabling non-government private entities to engage in space-based activities beyond mere vendor relationships with ISRO.
Strategic Capital Infusion: Validating Commercial Viability
Skyroot’s trajectory toward the Infinity Campus inauguration has been substantially enabled by aggressive capital deployment from globally recognized investment entities. In October 2023, the company successfully closed a $27.5 million pre-Series C funding round led by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, with additional participation from GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation). This capital infusion brought Skyroot’s cumulative funding to approximately $95 million—the largest amount ever raised by an Indian space-technology startup.
The strategic significance of Temasek’s participation extends beyond financial capital; it represents validation of Skyroot’s commercial model and technological roadmap by one of the world’s most sophisticated sovereign wealth funds. Temasek’s investment thesis centers on the accelerating global demand for small satellite launch services and the structural attractiveness of Skyroot’s cost-efficient manufacturing methodologies.
Pawan Kumar Chandana articulated the deployment strategy for this capital in unambiguous terms: accelerate upcoming launches planned over the following two years, augment infrastructure for production, reinforce technology leadership through R&D investments, attract world-class talent, and enhance launch frequency and operational capabilities. The timing of this capital raise proved prescient, coinciding with a dramatic resurgence in global interest in India’s space capabilities following the nation’s successful Chandrayaan lunar missions, which generated heightened international attention to India’s technological competencies.
BharathDaka emphasized that the funding would catalyze enhancement of production infrastructure, R&D capabilities, and team strength necessary for achieving higher launch cadences in subsequent years. This capital deployment philosophy reflects a sophisticated understanding of the commercial space market’s structural dynamics—success requires not merely demonstrating technical feasibility but achieving production efficiency and operational reliability at scale.
Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Market Access
Skyroot’s commercial potential has been substantially amplified through strategic partnerships with globally significant entities. Most notably, in June 2025, Axiom Space—the pioneering commercial space station company constructing the first privately operated commercial space infrastructure—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Skyroot to explore collaboration opportunities on missions to Axiom Station and independent LEO operations.
This partnership enables Skyroot to position Vikram-I as the preferred logistics vehicle for supporting Axiom Station operations, groundbreaking research payloads, and orbital data-center nodes. By connecting Axiom’s under-construction commercial space station with Skyroot’s launch capabilities, the two organizations are creating an integrated logistics corridor for research payloads and commercial missions serving both Indian and international markets. This strategic alignment provides Skyroot with a differentiated market position: rather than competing solely on cost or frequency, Skyroot becomes integrated within a broader commercial space infrastructure ecosystem.
India’s Space Sector Reforms
The Infinity Campus inauguration cannot be adequately understood without comprehending the transformative policy reforms that created the institutional environment enabling Skyroot’s emergence and flourishing. On June 26, 2020, the Government of India approved a groundbreaking decision permitting private enterprises to participate across all phases of space activities—from satellite design through launch vehicle manufacturing to ground station operations. This decision fundamentally disrupted India’s historical model of government monopoly in space activities, catalyzing the emergence of a vibrant private space ecosystem.
The establishment of IN-SPACe created a dedicated regulatory framework facilitating and promoting private sector participation in space-based activities. Critically, IN-SPACe shifted the institutional relationship from one where private companies functioned as vendors to ISRO to a model enabling independent entrepreneurial activity in space sectors. The framework explicitly permits non-government private entities (NGPEs) to engage in space-based activities with regulatory oversight but without operational constraints limiting autonomous decision-making.
Additionally, ISRO itself was repositioned from a monopolistic operator to a collaborative partner supporting private sector development. Following a February 2021 non-disclosure agreement (NDA) between ISRO and Skyroot Aerospace, the Department of Space signed a formal agreement enabling Skyroot to access ISRO facilities and technical expertise for testing of subsystems and integrated launch vehicles. Skyroot consequently became the first Indian startup to formally enter into an agreement with ISRO for utilizing its assets since announcement of the new policy.
India’s Global Space Position
The Infinity Campus inauguration coincides with accelerating recognition of India’s strategic significance in the emerging commercial space ecosystem. According to analysis by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) and KPMG, India’s space economy is projected to surge from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033, simultaneously expanding India’s share of global space economy from approximately 2% to 8%. This represents a compound annual growth rate substantially exceeding global space economy growth rates, reflecting structural shifts in satellite demand and manufacturing capabilities.
Currently, India holds approximately 2% of the $386 billion global space economy, contributing $7.8 billion as of 2021. However, ambitious government targets established by IN-SPACe envision India reaching a $50 billion space economy valuation by 2025—a target that, while ambitious, underscores official confidence in the private sector’s transformative potential.
The global small satellite market represents a critical opportunity for Indian players. In the United States alone, small satellite demand is projected to expand from $2.3 billion in 2025 to $7.3 billion by 2035, representing compound annual growth of 12.1%. This explosion in demand reflects genuine structural shifts in how space-based services are delivered: operational constellations for broadband connectivity, earth observation, and IoT applications require frequent launches of small satellites—precisely the market segment Skyroot addresses through Vikram-I.
Hyderabad: Emerging as India’s Aerospace Capital
The Infinity Campus inauguration underscores Hyderabad’s accelerating prominence as India’s aerospace and space-technology hub. The city currently hosts over 30 aerospace and defense original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and more than 1,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in aerospace-related activities. Global aerospace majors including DRDO, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), GMR Group, Tata enterprises, Adani-Elbit joint ventures, Safran Aircraft Engines, and the Boeing-TASL partnership operate from Hyderabad.
Telangana State government’s explicit objective is positioning Hyderabad as the “Aerospace Capital of India.” Hyderabad’s aerospace sector exports have already exceeded Rs. 28,000 crore (approximately $3.3 billion USD), reflecting the economic scale and capability of the regional ecosystem. Beyond Skyroot, competing space startups including Agnikul Cosmos—incubated at IIT-Madras and developing the Agnibaan orbital rocket—represent the competitive intensity characterizing India’s commercial space sector.
The Telangana government is implementing supplementary policy measures to accelerate aerospace and space-sector growth. Plans include establishing Phase-2 Aerospace and Defence Cluster and a dedicated Aerospace MSME Park, following the model of the Adibatla Aerospace SEZ (Special Economic Zone). Additionally, the government is promoting Hyderabad as a “Green Aviation Hub” supporting innovations in drone technology and sustainable aviation fuels. These complementary infrastructure initiatives provide Skyroot and other space companies with an increasingly sophisticated ecosystem supporting innovation and manufacturing scale-up.
India’s Private Space Sector
Skyroot operates within an increasingly competitive Indian commercial space ecosystem. Agnikul Cosmos, the IIT-Madras incubated startup, has emerged as the most significant competitor, raising $26.7 million in its Series B funding round in 2023—amounts comparable to Skyroot’s capital raises. Agnikul is developing Agnibaan, a privately developed small satellite rocket, expected to achieve its maiden orbital flight in 2025-2026, mirroring Skyroot’s launch timeline.
The competitive dynamics contrast favorably with Skyroot’s established position: Skyroot has already achieved the sub-orbital milestone through Vikram-S, established strategic partnerships with ISRO and international entities like Axiom Space, and attracted investment from globally recognized sovereign wealth funds. Additionally, Skyroot’s monthly production capacity and commitment to cost-efficient manufacturing through 3D printing and carbon composite technologies provide differentiation advantages.
The existence of multiple capable competitors strengthens India’s overall position in the commercial space sector, reducing dependency on any single player and ensuring robust competition driving innovation and cost reduction. This competitive ecosystem is precisely what private space industry maturation requires—multiple players with differentiated technologies, manufacturing approaches, and market strategies.
Government Support & Policy Continuity
PM Modi’s virtual inauguration of the Infinity Campus represents sustained government commitment to India’s private space sector development. The PM emphasized that India is “dreaming big, doing bigger, and delivering the best,” characterizing the private space sector as central to achieving developed nation status by 2047. Modi specifically highlighted that “youth power is reaching new heights” through private space entrepreneurship, positioning Skyroot and similar enterprises as symbols of India’s demographic dividend and entrepreneurial vigor.
The government’s position reflects recognition that space-based capabilities constitute critical infrastructure for national security, economic development, and global competitiveness. By enabling and supporting private players like Skyroot, the government multiplies the nation’s space capabilities without bearing the full capital and operational burden. This public-private partnership model aligns with global best practices observed in countries like the United States, where SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Axiom Space operate within a regulatory framework established by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Looking Forward: Skyroot’s 2026 Objectives and Beyond
The inauguration of Infinity Campus positions Skyroot for intensive operational activity in the subsequent 24 months. The company targets Vikram-I maiden orbital flight for January-February 2026—a schedule that has been publicly affirmed to investors and government entities. Achievement of this milestone will constitute a historic demonstration of India’s private sector capability to develop, manufacture, and execute orbital-class space missions autonomously.
Following successful maiden flight validation, Skyroot intends to accelerate launch cadence substantially. The monthly production capacity of Infinity Campus provides the physical infrastructure for supporting a significantly elevated launch tempo. Market demand appears robust: with over 200 space startups globally developing small satellite missions and constellations requiring frequent launches, supply-side constraints have characterized the market for several years. Skyroot’s capacity to provide on-demand, customizable launch services addresses this structural supply shortage.
CEO Chandana has explicitly articulated ambition for Skyroot to emerge as the global “go-to choice” for small satellite launch services, particularly for international operators seeking alternatives to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 secondary payload arrangements or emerging Chinese launch providers. This positioning requires achieving operational reliability at frequency scales—precisely the capability the Infinity Campus is engineered to enable.
Additionally, Skyroot is exploring advanced propulsion technologies and vehicle configurations. The optional fourth stage liquid-fuel configuration on Vikram-I enables greater mission flexibility, permitting deployment of heavier payloads to higher orbital inclinations or serving specialized mission profiles. Future variants may include larger payload configurations addressing medium-lift satellite categories, expanding addressable market opportunities.
India’s Emergence as a Space Power
The Infinity Campus inauguration by PM Modi transcends the ceremonial inauguration of a manufacturing facility. It represents the crystallization of five years of transformative policy reforms, entrepreneurial vision, and technological achievement. India—a nation historically limited to government-administered space activities—has successfully created an institutional and regulatory environment enabling private entrepreneurs to develop world-class space capabilities independently.
Skyroot’s emergence as a credible orbital-class launch provider validates the efficacy of India’s space sector reforms. The company’s success demonstrates that exceptional talent exists within India for space technology development; that cost-efficient manufacturing through advanced technologies like carbon composites and 3D printing can compete globally; and that market demand for small satellite launch services creates sustainable commercial opportunities.
For India’s global positioning, Skyroot and similar enterprises represent authentic pathways toward achieving the ambitious $50 billion space economy target. More profoundly, these enterprises strengthen India’s technological autonomy and global competitiveness in a domain of profound strategic importance. Space-based services increasingly constitute critical infrastructure for telecommunications, earth observation, navigation, and national security—domains where technological capability and operational independence matter enormously.
The Infinity Campus inauguration signals to the world that India is not merely a space-faring nation (demonstrated through ISRO’s achievements) but has successfully catalyzed a vibrant, innovative, capital-attracting private space ecosystem capable of competing globally. This represents a fundamental transition in India’s engagement with space technology—from government-directed pursuit to market-driven entrepreneurial dynamism.
