Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has launched the world’s first lab-grown diamond jewellery payload into orbit aboard Vikram-1. It is India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The mission carried the Cosmos Bloom Diamond, created in partnership with Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds, making it a landmark for both the space and jewellery industries.
The Skyroot Vikram-1 lab-grown diamond payload features a handcrafted lotus-shaped gold jewel set with 16.9 carats of lab-grown diamonds, all grown and crafted in India. The piece underwent more than 100 design sketches and 11 production iterations. Engineers also tested specialised materials to ensure it could withstand launch vibrations, thermal shocks, and high acceleration. The payload received approvals from both Skyroot Aerospace and IN-SPACe before launch.
The idea for the Cosmos Bloom Diamond emerged from a conversation between Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana and Cosmos Diamonds founder Sanjana, inspired by the question of whether a diamond could actually be sent to space. The concept evolved into a year-long engineering project combining technology, design, and Indian craftsmanship.
Besides the diamond payload, Vikram-1 carried SCOPE, Skyroot’s Earth observation satellite, SOLARAS, a solar-monitoring CubeSat, Embrace, a robotic arm demonstration for space debris capture, two German technology demonstration payloads, and Micro-Art, an 18-karat gold micro-sculpture featuring portraits of Indian scientific icons.
Beyond its symbolic value, the Skyroot Vikram-1 lab-grown diamond mission will also help evaluate the performance of lab-grown diamonds in space. It will support future applications in electronics, semiconductors, laser optics, and radiation detection.
