In a significant boost to India’s burgeoning private space sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 27, 2025, inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s Infinity Campus via video conferencing. During the event, he also unveiled Vikram-I, the company’s first orbital launch vehicle designed to deploy satellites into space. The event marked a transformative moment not only for Skyroot Aerospace, but also for India’s vision of becoming a global hub for space innovation, driven by startups and private enterprises.
Vikram-I: A Historic Milestone for Private Space in India
- Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, Vikram-I is a privately developed orbital rocket, a first in the country.
- Unlike suborbital rockets, Vikram-I is designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO)—a capability that enhances India’s competitive edge in the fast-growing commercial satellite launch market.
- This follows Skyroot’s successful launch of Vikram-S, India’s first sub-orbital rocket built by a private firm, which made headlines in November 2022.
Skyroot’s Infinity Campus: India’s Cutting-Edge Space Facility
- The Infinity Campus, located in Hyderabad, is a state-of-the-art 200,000 square foot facility designed for the end-to-end development of launch vehicles—from design and integration to testing.
- Skyroot aims to manufacture one orbital rocket per month, dramatically improving India’s launch capabilities.
- This facility is a reflection of the new space policy reforms encouraging private sector participation, aligning with PM Modi’s vision of making India a leader in the global space economy.
PM Modi: India’s Space Future
- During the launch, PM Modi praised the entrepreneurship and innovation driving India’s space growth, particularly by young engineers, coders, and scientists.
- “Skyroot’s Infinity Campus is a reflection of India’s new thinking, innovation, and youth power,” he said. “More than 300 space startups are now giving a new vision and momentum to our space ecosystem.”
- He highlighted that many of these startups began with small teams and limited resources, yet have shown extraordinary resolve and technical strength, signaling a paradigm shift in India’s approach to space exploration.
Skyroot’s Vision and Founding Journey
- Founded by Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka, both IIT alumni and former ISRO scientists, Skyroot Aerospace has rapidly risen to become India’s leading private space organisation.
- Their mission: to democratise space access, reduce launch costs, and accelerate innovation through flexible, scalable launch systems.
- The Infinity Campus will serve as the launchpad—figuratively and literally—for future missions that cater to commercial, scientific, and strategic demands.
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi inaugurated Skyroot’s Infinity Campus and unveiled Vikram-I orbital rocket on November 27, 2025.
- The 200,000 sq ft campus can build one orbital rocket every month.
- Vikram-I is India’s first private orbital rocket; follows the successful Vikram-S (2022).
- Skyroot was founded by ISRO scientists Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka.
- The launch highlights the rise of over 300 Indian space startups.