The Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota witnessed the successful firing of the KALAM 1200 rocket motor, a significant milestone in India’s developing private space sector. The motor, developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, is the first stage of the Vikram-1-1 launch vehicle and was tested in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The KALAM 1200, which stands 11 metres tall and has a diameter of 1.7 metres, contains 30 tonnes of solid propellant and can transport hefty payloads into orbit. This test marks the first time an Indian private company has developed a large-scale rocket motor that meets global performance standards.
The achievement reflects the success of India’s Space Policy 2023, which allowed private enterprises to design and operate launch vehicles. ISRO provided critical technical support and world-class testing facilities, while Skyroot brought novel engineering and design expertise.
The development strengthens India’s competitiveness in the rapidly growing global space industry, which is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2040. More private-sector involvement promises increased launch capacity, reduced costs, and provides greater strategic autonomy.
Skyroot’s next milestone will be showing a successful orbital launch of Vikram-1, which will strengthen India’s position as a cost-effective and nimble operator in commercial space exploration.
