Who is Prithvi Sanghani? Farmer's daughter behind Vikram-1's autopilot system

As India celebrated the successful launch of Vikram-1, one of the engineers behind its most critical systems remained away from the spotlight. From a farming family in Gujarat to helping build India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Prithvi Sanghani's journey shows how education and determination can open unexpected doors.

In Short

• Prithvi Sanghani led autopilot system development at Skyroot Aerospace
• She hails from a farming family in Jamnagar, Gujarat
• Her journey inspires students to pursue space careers regardless of background

When Vikram-1, India's first privately built orbital rocket, lifted off, millions celebrated another milestone for the country's growing private space sector. But behind that successful launch stood hundreds of engineers whose work began years before the countdown.

One of them was Prithvi Sanghani, the Control System Lead for Vikram-1's autopilot system at Skyroot Aerospace. Her story is not just about building rockets, it is about how education, perseverance and curiosity helped a girl from a farming family become part of one of India's biggest private space missions.

A DREAM THAT GREW BEYOND THE FIELDS

Prithvi was born and raised in Jamnagar, Gujarat, in a farmer's family. Unlike many engineers in the aerospace sector, she did not grow up surrounded by research laboratories or technology hubs.

After completing her engineering degree in Rajkot, she chose a path that relatively few students pursue. She moved to Pune to earn a Master's degree in Missile Technology, building expertise in a highly specialised field that would later shape her career.

FIRST MISSILES, THEN SPACE

Prithvi's first major professional assignment was at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), where she worked as a Project Engineer and contributed to India's missile programmes.

For many young engineers, a role at DRDO would have been the destination. For Prithvi, however, it became the foundation for something even bigger.

As India's private space industry began expanding, she joined Skyroot Aerospace and became part of Mission Aagaman, the company's ambitious orbital launch programme.

THE ENGINEER WHO KEPT VIKRAM-1 ON COURSE

At Skyroot, Prithvi led the development of Vikram-1's autopilot control system – one of the rocket's most critical technologies.

The autopilot helps ensure that the launch vehicle remains on its planned flight path throughout the mission. While rockets often make headlines, such missions depend on years of testing, software development and engineering carried out by teams working behind the scenes.

Prithvi's contribution is a reminder that every successful launch is powered not only by powerful engines but also by people solving complex engineering challenges long before liftoff.

A MESSAGE FOR EVERY ASPIRING ENGINEER

India's space sector is changing rapidly, creating opportunities far beyond traditional government organisations. Private aerospace companies are opening new career paths in areas such as launch vehicles, satellite technology, guidance systems and artificial intelligence.

Prithvi Sanghani's journey shows that a student's background does not define their future. Strong fundamentals, specialised learning and the courage to follow an unconventional path can take anyone from a small town to the frontiers of space technology.

For students dreaming of building rockets, and especially for young girls wondering whether they belong in the space industry, her story offers a simple answer: yes, they do.

- Ends