Context: India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket is all set for its maiden launch developed by Skyroot Aerospace.
- The launch window for Vikram-1’s first test flight, named Misson Aagaman, is between July 12 and August 4.
- Mission Aagaman, means ‘the arrival’, marking its second mission following the successful suborbital flight of Vikram-S, the first private rocket to reach space from Indian soil, on November 18, 2022.
- The mission will gather critical data across propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control and overall vehicle performance, supporting the evolution of Skyroot into a commercially operational launch company.
Features of Vikram-1 Rocket:
- Vikram-1 is a seven-storey-tall, multi-stage orbital launch vehicle.
- Stages: It has four stages and the first three stages are solid-fuelled, providing robust initial thrust, topped by a hypergolic liquid upper stage for precise orbital adjustments.
- Stage 4 uses a cluster of four Raman engines. These are hypergolic engines, (meaning they ignite instantly when two chemicals, MMH fuel and NTO oxidiser, come into contact).
- It is built with an all-carbon composite structure, and powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel rocket boosters.
- Carrying Capacity: It is designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 260 kg into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
- Design: The design emphasises simplicity, reliability, and the ability to launch within 24 hours from any location.
- It is built to target the small-satellite segment and is capable of placing multiple satellites into orbit in a single mission.
- Innovation: Other key innovations include, ultra-low-shock pneumatic separation systems, and advanced avionics for real-time guidance.