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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Friday, 29 March 2024 7.44 AM IST

Vikram-S rocket launched successfully; paves way for an era of private sector in Indian space program

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India’s first privately-built rocket was successfully launched yesterday scripting history for ISRO. Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman of INSPACe, said that the five-minute long initial mission of ‘Vikram-S’ rocket, which lifted off from the Sounding rocket launch pad in Sriharikota around 11.30 am, was a success.

ISRO also stated that the data transmission, equipment, control systems, velocity and thermal control of the rocket which reached a height of 89.5 km were accurate. ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somnath, Union Minister Jitendra Singh were among others who witnessed the historic launch.

Launches in private sector

In India only government organisation ISRO was allowed to build and launch satellites and rockets. Foreign satellites are also launched commercially. This is the first time that a rocket has been built and launched in the private sector. The rocket was manufactured by Skyroot Aerospace Ltd, a company in Hyderabad. While the first launch was overseen by ISRO, next launches will be conducted directly by the company. Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana said that satellites will be launched from next year.

Yesterday's launch

Vikram -S is six meters tall and weighs 455 kilograms, is only the first stage. Kalam-80 engine and solid fuel were used. There were three payloads: Funsat built by students in India, Singapore and the US, Bazoomq by Armenia and Tech India by N.Space. The rocket reached a height of 89.5 km in two minutes. The launch was at a speed of five times the speed of sound. The rocket did not reach 100 km where the outerspace begins and that was not the goal. Payloads were not launched into orbit as they did not reach space. All three payloads were activated on the rocket itself and created connection with the Earth. Then the rocket and payloads fell on the sea as predetermined. The rocket that landed in the Bay of Bengal, 130 km from the land, was recovered. The satellites will be launched in Vikram S-I rocket.

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TAGS: VIKRAM-S, ROCKET LAUNCH, PRIVATE SECTOR, BUILT, ISRO, SRIHARIKOTTA, SPACE
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