India’s First Private Rocket “Vikram S Rocket”

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace scripted history by becoming the first private Indian organisation to launch a rocket from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s launchpad in Sriharikota.

Vikram S rocket:

• It is a part of Mission Prarambh, which means the beginning.
• Prarambh is a Sanskrit word, which means the beginning. So we wanted to call this mission the beginning of a new era or dawn in India’s space industry. 
• Vikram-S was the first launch. 
• It is a sub-orbital rocket, which reached outer space and then splashed into the sea.
• Next launch will be Vikram-1, an orbital vehicle that puts satellites into orbit. 

Mechanism of Vikram S

• There are four spin thrusters, which will generate the rocket’s spin. This gives stability so that it doesn’t deviate much from the trajectory. 
• It experiences Max-Q during the lift-off, which is the maximum stress on the rocket. 
• Many rockets get broken at this point that is 15 seconds down the flight. 
• At around 23 seconds, the rocket motor or the engine burns out. During this time, it just lofts to space and achieves five times the speed of sound or Mach 5.
• It descends after reaching the maximum point called ‘Apogee’ and then it falls back and splashes down into the sea. 
• So, it takes around two and a half minutes to reach the Apogee and another two and a half minutes to splash down. 

Technologies used

• Carbon composites: porous structure made of carbon and carbon fibre and four times lighter and has higher strength than steel.
• The lighter the rocket, the more payload we can use.
• 3D printing: reduces the cycle time by 90 per cent compared with traditional methods and allows to build complex shapes.
• Cycle time is the time required to manufacture a component.
• Cost-effectiveness
• Efficient technology
• Utilising existing govt infrastructure
• Operating out of India

About Skyroot Aerospace

• It is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider headquartered in Hyderabad.
• Mandates: cutting-edge innovation and cost-effectiveness
• Next launch will be Vikram-1, an orbital vehicle that puts satellites into orbit.
• Vikram-2 will have a higher capacity than Vikram-1.
• Skyroot Aerospace focuses on reusability of rockets.