Vikram-S successfully lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 11.30am on Friday. Mission aims to place the payload in about 500 kms low inclination orbit.
The 3D-printed components and carbon composite structures, advanced technologies has been used in Vikram-S. The in-built technology offers unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion, interplanetary missions, while providing customized, dedicated and ride share options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs.
It carries with it three PCB-based payloads from three different companies (Space Kidz India, Bazoomq Armenia and N-Space Tech India), which are equipped with sensors for the measurement of acceleration, pressure and other aspects. The rocket generated a vacuum thrust of seven tones going hypersonic at a speed of Mach 5, which is five times the speed of sound.
A Chennai based aerospace startup Spacekidz will fly ‘Fun-Sat’, a 2.5 kg payload developed by students from India, the US, Singapore and Indonesia on the sub-orbital flight on board Vikram-S.
Vikram-S is a first privately build small rocket, which is just six meter long sub orbital rocket. It is a single stage sub orbital rocket powered by solid fuelled propulsion. Skyroot’s launch is named ‘Vikram’ as a tribute to the founder of the Indian space programme and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.
The company was founded by former engineers and scientists from ISRO. It aims to develop and launch its own series of small lift launch vehicles especially crafted for the small satellite market.
Skyroot has successfully built and tested India’s first privately developed cryogenic, hypergolic-liquid, and solid fuel-based rocket engines using advanced composite and 3D-printing technologies.
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Department of Space (DOS), on Thursday said it had authorised the rocket launch with three satellites. They said,” This rocket will help to validate the technologies for VIKRAM Series orbital vehicle”, which they are planning to launch in upcoming year.
