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India achieves milestone with launch of first private-sector orbital rocket

Asia-Pacific 5 sources 5 countries 49m ago

PM Narendra Modi says successful launch will 'encourage countless youngsters to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly'. India’s first privately built orbital rocket took its maiden flight on Saturday, its company said, marking a significant step for the South Asian giant as it eyes a bigger slice of the global space economy. The Vikram-1 rocket, built by Skyroot Aerospace and designed to carry small satellites into low-Earth orbit, took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota amid loud cheers.

“Hello space, we have arrived!” Skyroot Aerospace said on social media. India's first privately developed orbital rocket, the Vikram-1, has successfully lifted off on its maiden orbital mission. Lifting off from an island north of Chennai, the Vikram-1 rocket signals India’s plans to take a larger share of the market for commercial rocket launches.

The takeoff marks a significant step for the South Asian giant as it eyes a bigger slice of the global space economy.

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Read the full story at the source Al Jazeera · QA

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