Private Orbital Launch Signals India's Space Leap: Jitendra Singh

“Had Prime Minister Narendra Modi not taken the bold decision to open India's space sector to private enterprise, the country would not have witnessed this historic achievement,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said.

He said the reforms have unlocked the immense potential of Indian innovators, providing them access to national space infrastructure and creating an ecosystem where world-class technologies can now be conceived, developed and launched entirely from India.

Singh said Vikram-1 has demonstrated an exceptional level of technological maturity for a maiden orbital mission. Unlike many maiden launches that carry only dummy masses, Vikram‑1 carried experimental payloads and customer demonstrations from Indian and international partners, he said.

The mission also flew customer payloads and technology demonstrations from Indian and international partners, reflecting the growing confidence of the global space community in India's commercial launch capabilities.

Vikram‑1, built entirely in India, can place up to 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit and incorporates indigenous breakthroughs including an all‑carbon composite orbital rocket, a fully 3D‑printed liquid engine for its Orbital Adjustment Module, advanced ultra-low-shock pneumatic separation systems and a long monolithic carbon‑composite rocket stage.

The statement highlighted India’s space reforms since 2020 that helped grow 400 spave startups, first space unicorn, and a space economy approaching $9 billion, with a national vision of expanding it to nearly $44 billion over the next decade.