Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Skyroot Aerospace founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka to congratulate them on the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket. Describing the achievement as a historic milestone, he said it would strengthen India's space ambitions while inspiring future generations of innovators.
During the conversation, the Prime Minister remarked, "Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, you have not only planted a new tree in space, but a new root has also been strengthened on the ground to inspire the new generation."
Expressing his enthusiasm for the achievement, PM Modi said he had closely followed the mission and wished he could have been present with the team during the launch.
"I wanted to be there with the young team. I was closely tracking the launch and congratulate your entire team on this remarkable success. It was truly heartening to see that most of your team members are just 25 to 30 years old. That made me especially happy," he said.
The Prime Minister also recalled the doubts that had surrounded the government's decision to open India's space sector to private companies, noting that Vikram-1's successful mission had validated that policy.
Adding a symbolic element to the mission, Vikram-1 carried a handwritten postcard from PM Modi bearing the words "Vande Mataram." The rocket also transported handwritten messages from Skyroot employees, investors, policymakers, scientists, and supporters from across the world.
Following the interaction, PM Modi shared a message on X, stating, "Spoke to the team of Skyroot Aerospace and congratulated them on the successful launch of Vikram-1. This is a defining moment in India's space journey."
He further added, "The growing participation of our private sector is opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation. This achievement will encourage countless youngsters to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly."
The mission also carried handwritten messages from current and former ISRO chairmen and Indian astronauts, recognising the decades of efforts that have contributed to India's space programme.
According to Skyroot Aerospace, the collection of postcards was intended to honour the individuals whose contributions helped establish India as a leading spacefaring nation. Describing the symbolic payload, the company said, "Mission Aagaman is a celebration carried by many hands and shared by millions."
Earlier in the day, Skyroot Aerospace created history by successfully launching Vikram-1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, making it India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket to successfully reach orbit.
Although the launch experienced a brief delay due to an internal hold before liftoff, the mission proceeded smoothly. All stage separations were executed precisely, and the payload was deployed successfully.
Named Mission Aagaman, the maiden flight achieved all its objectives, with all four stages of the launch vehicle performing nominally on their first attempt.
The success marks a significant milestone for India's commercial space sector, placing the country among a select group of nations where a private company has independently designed, developed, and launched an orbital-class rocket.
