🌌 India’s Private Space Revolution Begins
India is gearing up for its first-ever private commercial rocket launch by January 2026, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s space journey.
Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based startup founded by two former ISRO scientists, is preparing to launch its first full-scale commercial satellite mission, taking a bold step toward redefining India’s position in the global space economy.
🛰️ A Major Leap for India’s Space Ecosystem
Until now, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has been the sole entity responsible for launching satellites into orbit. The arrival of private players like Skyroot signals a transformative era for India’s space industry—one that promotes collaboration, innovation, and investment.
This growing ecosystem of private space ventures is:
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Reducing ISRO’s operational burden
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Attracting global partnerships and funding
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Fostering innovation and advanced R&D
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Creating high-skill jobs in the aerospace sector
Together, these developments are positioning India as a key player in the global space market, where affordability meets innovation.
🚀 Ambitious Plans: One Launch Every Three Months
Founded in 2018 by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot Aerospace aims to democratize space access, especially for small satellite operators.
The company has announced plans to conduct one rocket launch every three months starting next year and scale up to monthly launches by 2027.
“Making a single rocket takes about eight to nine months and costs $2–3 million. Our revenue expectation per launch is about double that,”
— Pawan Chandana, CEO, Skyroot Aerospace
The startup expects to generate around $5 million per launch, catering to both domestic and international payloads.
💰 India’s Most-Funded Space Startup
Skyroot’s achievements are not just technical—they’re financial milestones too. In October 2023, the company raised $27.5 million from Temasek Holdings, a Singapore-based investment giant.
This brought Skyroot’s total funding to $95 million (₹850 crore), making it India’s most-funded space-tech startup.
With this strong backing, Skyroot is well-positioned to make satellite launches more affordable and accessible to Indian businesses, unlocking a new era of commercial space exploration.
🌠 The Road Ahead
Skyroot Aerospace’s upcoming commercial mission marks the beginning of a new chapter for India’s private space sector. As more startups join this orbit, India’s dream of becoming a global hub for cost-effective space launches is fast becoming reality.
💭 Final Thoughts
Skyroot Aerospace is not just building rockets—it’s building the foundation of India’s private space economy.
Their journey reflects the power of innovation, collaboration, and vision, proving that space is no longer just a government frontier but a thriving landscape of entrepreneurial ambition.
As India enters this new phase, Skyroot’s success story could inspire a generation of engineers, scientists, and dreamers to reach beyond the skies.
The countdown to India’s first private orbital mission has begun—ushering in an era where space truly belongs to everyone.