Skyroot gears up for second Vikram-1 launch, test fires Raman-1 engine

Skyroot Aerospace has completed the Raman-1 thruster test campaign for Vikram-1's second flight. The milestone advances preparations to demonstrate repeatable and commercially viable private launches.

In Short

• First-stage hardware has reached Sriharikota for integration and testing activities
• Flight 2 is targeted for December 2026 or early January 2027
• Mission Aagaman placed payloads in orbit approximately 450 kilometres above Earth

India's private space race is gathering momentum as Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace completes another crucial propulsion test ahead of the second flight of its Vikram-1 rocket.

The company has successfully test-fired its Raman-1 thruster, a key component responsible for controlling the rocket's orientation during flight.

Sharing a video of the engine firing on the test stand, Skyroot announced that Raman-1 had completed its test campaign and was ready for Flight 2.

Unlike the main engines that propel a rocket upwards, Raman-1 performs a more specialised function. It controls the roll of Vikram-1, which is the rotation of the launch vehicle around its longitudinal axis. This is critical for maintaining the rocket's orientation and ensuring it follows its intended flight path.

The successful test marks another step towards getting the next Vikram-1 vehicle ready for launch.

SECOND VIKRAM-1 FLIGHT TAKING SHAPE

Skyroot has already begun preparations for its second orbital test mission. The company has shipped the first-stage hardware of the next Vikram-1 rocket to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, where integration and testing activities are underway.

The company is targeting its second test flight around December 2026 or early January 2027. Skyroot has indicated that it plans to move towards fully commercial launches from its third mission.

Vikram-1 made history on July 18, 2026, when it successfully reached low Earth orbit during its maiden flight, Mission Aagaman. The rocket deployed its payloads into an orbit approximately 450 kilometres above Earth, making Skyroot the first Indian private company to successfully launch an orbital-class rocket.

The second flight will be an important test of the startup's ability to repeat its maiden success and establish reliable launch capabilities.

For India's growing private space industry, the focus is now shifting from reaching orbit once to making launches repeatable and commercially viable.

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