Skyroot, ISRO to Cooperate on Development of Commercial Satellite Launcher

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

Skyroot Aerospace and India’s Department of Space have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that will enable the Hyderabad-based startup to access the facilities and technical expertise available in ISRO centers to proceed with development of its Vikram family of launch vehicles.

Vikrams will launch payloads ranging from 225 kg to 720 kg depending upon the rocket used and the orbit desired. Skyroot says the boosters can be assembled and launched within 24 to 72 hours with minimal infrastructure.

Skyroot was founded by three former ISRO employees — Pawan Kumar Chandana, Naga Bharath Daka and Vasudevan Gnanagandhi — who are looking to take advantage of India’s decision to allow private space companies to operate.

Skyroot has received the backing of Curefit founders Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori. Curefit is a health and fitness company that has raised $404.6 million.

The launch vehicles are named for Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, who is known as the father of Indian space program. The physicist and astronomer helped found and served as chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research, which later became ISRO.