Vikram-S: India's First Privately developed Rocket

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Vikram-S: Why Important for UPSC Exam?

Vikram-S: It is India’s First Privately developed Rocket. Vikram-S has been developed with the Support of ISRO and IN-SPACe Agencies. Vikram-S is important for UPSC Prelims Exam (Science and Tech current affairs) and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 3- Indigenization of science and technology).

Vikram-S: Why in News?

Vikram-S, India’s first privately developed rocket, is poised to create history as it undergoes final preparations at the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) launchpad in Sriharikota.
- Vikram-S is set for launch between November 12 and 16.

What is Vikram-S?- Key Features

About: Vikram-S is a privately developed rocket engine by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace.
Development: Vikram-S is being developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace with support from ISRO and IN-SPACe.
Parent Mission: The skyroot has named the mission as ‘Prarambh’ (the beginning) — since it is the first mission for the company.
Significance: With this maiden mission, Skyroot is set to become the first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space, heralding a new era for the space sector.
- Space Sector was recently opened up to facilitate private sector participation by the government.

What is Skyroot Aerospace?

Skyroot, a two-time national award winner, is the first start-up to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISRO to launch a rocket into space.
Skyroot Aerospace has so far raised $68 million and it is India’s most funded private space startup.
It is among the first companies to locally build fully 3D-printed rocket engines and successfully testing the same in November last year.

What is IN-SPACe?

IN-SPACe is an autonomous and single window nodal agency in the Department of Space for the promotion, encouragement and regulation of space activities of both government and private entities.
IN-SPACe will act as a single window, independent nodal agency to take care of all the needs of the private sector.
It also facilitates the usage of ISRO facilities by private entities.
The establishment of IN-SPACe was announced in June 2020.

Need for Privatization of Space Sector in India

The global space industry is valued at 400 billion US dollars and has a potential to become a 1 trillion-dollar industry by 2040.
India needs to increase its share in the global space industry and the private sector will play a big role in that.
New fields like space tourism and space diplomacy need to be explored to walk shoulder to shoulder with the other advanced nations.
India is working on a New Indian Space Policy for coordinating between government companies, space industries, start-ups and institutions.

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