Skyroot preparing for second Vikram-1 launch. Founder reveals when

Skyroot says it is planning a second Vikram-1 launch after the rocket's maiden success. The next mission could mix commercial and test payloads as the company seeks to build customer confidence.The private space company is currently conducting post-flight analysis of the Vikram-1 Aagaman mission. (Photo: Skyroot)Fresh off the successful maiden flight of its Vikram-1 launch vehicle, Skyroot Aerospace is already preparing for its next mission, with the company targeting a second launch before the end of the year.However, unlike a routine commercial mission, the flight is expected to serve a dual purpose, building customer confidence while continuing to validate the rocket's performance.Speaking to IndiaToday.in after the Vikram-1 mission, Skyroot founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana said the company's second launch is being planned, but whether it will be a test flight or a fully commercial mission will be decided within a few weeks.The private space company is currently conducting post flight analysis of the Vikram-1 Aagaman mission. Once the analysis is complete, a decision will be taken on the nature of the second launch. "Typically, you need at least two consecutive successful launches to give customers confidence in the launch vehicle. So, there is a strong possibility that the second launch could also be a test flight," Chandana said.Rather than carrying only experimental payloads, the mission is expected to include a combination of commercial satellites and technology demonstration payloads. "It will be a mix of commercial and test payloads," he said, indicating that Skyroot plans to gradually transition Vikram-1 into regular commercial service while continuing to gather flight data.The company expects to complete its detailed post-flight analysis over the next two to three weeks before finalising the mission timeline."Our target is to conduct the second launch by the end of this year," Pawan said. However, he cautioned that the schedule will depend on the outcome of the flight review."If we identify areas that require significant changes, upgrades or improvements based on the observations from this mission, the timeline will depend on how long it takes to implement and validate those modifications," he added.Despite the caveat, Pawan reaffirmed that launching a second Vikram-1 mission before the end of 2026 remains Skyroot's current goal.The second launch vehicle is already in an advanced stage of development at the company's rocket factory in Hyderabad.India's next space era has lifted off.The successful launch of Vikram1, India's first privately developed launch vehicle by Skyroot Aerospace @SkyrootA marks a defining milestone for India's space journey.This achievement underscores strength of India's space sector reforms pic.twitter.com/dVkfmMBzjo— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 18, 2026The successful maiden flight of Vikram-1 marked a watershed moment for India's private space sector, making Skyroot the first private Indian company to place satellites into orbit using an indigenously developed orbital launch vehicle.A successful follow-up mission would not only strengthen confidence among domestic and international customers but also pave the way for regular commercial launches.With the Indian government recently unveiling incentive schemes worth hundreds of crores to support private launch providers, Skyroot's next mission could become another milestone in India's push to emerge as a global commercial launch hub.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Aug 5, 2026 13:54 IST