Vikram S Rocket [UPSC Notes]

Vikram-S Rocket was set to be launched on 15th November 2022, however, due to inclement weather the rocket was launched successfully on 18th November from the ISRO launch pad in Sriharikota, an island in Andhra Pradesh.

This topic forms a part of the ‘Space Technology, Indigenisation of Technology’ segment of the UPSC syllabus.

Vikram S Rocket

Vikram – S, a single-stage suborbital launch vehicle, is India’s first privately developed rocket, developed by Skyroot Aerospace with support from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre – the regulator for the private sector space industry).

Image source: https://skyroot.in/

• The name “Vikram” is given to Skyroot Aerospace’s rockets as a tribute to Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the eminent scientist who founded the Indian Space Program.
• All the systems have been designed in-house except for a few sensors which were imported.
• The Vikram-S launch under the Mission Prarambh (beginning) will carry three customer payloads to space. Out of them, two will be of Indian customers and one will be of foreign customers.
• The launch of Vikram-S will pave the way for India’s private space sector which was opened in 2020. 
• The Vikram-S will be powered by the Kalam 80 propulsion system that will ignite the three-stage rocket to an altitude of 120 km above the surface of the earth.

Skyroot Aerospace

The Hyderabad-based Skyroot is the first start-up to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISRO to launch its rockets into space.

• Set up in 2018, Skyroot has successfully built and tested India’s first privately developed cryogenic, hypergolic-liquid and solid fuel-based rocket engines using advanced composite and 3-D printing technologies. 
• The aim of opening the space sector for private companies in India is to provide a conducive environment for cost-efficient satellite launch services by disrupting the entry barriers. This will help the companies in advancing their mission and make spaceflights affordable, reliable and regular.

Vikram Series

• Skyroot has been developing three variants of the Vikram rocket.
  • Vikram I, which has a payload or carrying capacity of 480 kg to 500 km low inclination orbit (LIO).
  • Vikram II, which has a payload or carrying capacity of 595 kg to 500 km LIO, 400 kg to 500 km SSPO (sun-synchronous polar orbits), and 
  • Vikram III, which has a payload or carrying capacity of 815 kg to 500 km LIO, 560 kg to 500 km SSPO (sun-synchronous polar orbits).

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