Vikram-I
Indian small-lift launch vehicle developed by Skyroot Aerospace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vikram-I (Sanskrit, lit. 'Brave'; Namesake: Vikram Sarabhai) is a four-stage, expendable orbital small-lift launch vehicle developed by Skyroot Aerospace. Its first three stages are solid stages, while the fourth stage is a liquid stage.
| Function | Small-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Skyroot Aerospace |
| Country of origin | India |
| Size | |
| Height | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Stages | 4 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO (500 km @ 45° inclination) | |
| Mass | I:350 kg (770 lb) IU:550 kg (1,210 lb)[1] |
| Payload to SSPO (500 km) | |
| Mass | 260 kg (570 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | Kalam 1200 |
| Maximum thrust | 1,000 kN (220,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | Kalam 250 |
| Maximum thrust | 250 kN (56,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage | |
| Powered by | Kalam 100 |
| Maximum thrust | 100 kN (22,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Fourth stage | |
| Powered by | 4 x Raman-I |
| Maximum thrust | 3.4 kN (760 lbf) |
| Propellant | N2O4/MMH |
Development
Skyroot Aerospace unveiled the Vikram-I launch vehicle in October 2023 at its MAX-Q headquarters in Hyderabad.[2] The company stated that the rocket was developed to serve the growing global small satellite launch market.
The vehicle's development followed the successful launch of the suborbital demonstrator Vikram-S in November 2022, which made Skyroot the first Indian private company to launch a rocket from the ISRO's launch facilities.[3]
In May 2022, Skyroot completed a full-duration static test of the Kalam-100 solid rocket stage, a component of Vikram-I.[4] Additional qualification tests, including stage separation tests and avionics validation, were carried out through 2024 and 2025.
In November 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the flight-ready configuration of Vikram-I during the inauguration of Skyroot’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad.[5]
Design
Vikram-I is a four-stage orbital launch vehicle approximately 20 metres tall and 1.7 metres in diameter.[6] The first three stages use solid propulsion, while the upper kick stage uses liquid propulsion for orbital insertion and adjustment manoeuvres.
The rocket incorporates carbon-composite airframes intended to reduce structural mass. Skyroot has also stated that the vehicle uses 3D-printed liquid engines and modular avionics systems.[7]
Skyroot advertises Vikram-I as a responsive launch system capable of rapid integration and launch operations with minimal launch infrastructure requirements.[8]
Launch history
Skyroot aims to conduct its maiden flight in 2026.[9]
| Date / time (UTC) | Flight | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2026 06:00:00 |
Test flight 1 | Vikram-I | Satish Dhawan FLP |
|
LEO | Planned |
| Maiden flight of Vikram-I. Cosmoserve Space's robotic arm Embrace and an On-orbit demonstration from DCUBED is hosted on the upper stage of this mission. | ||||||
| Q1 2027 | TBA | Vikram-IU | Satish Dhawan |  TBA |
LEO | Planned |
| Maiden flight of Vikram-IU configuration of Vikram-I with additional solid rocket boosters.[10] | ||||||