PM Modi meets Skyroot founders after Vikram-1 success, lauds India's growing private space ecosystem

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Skyroot Aerospace founders Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, congratulating the startup on the successful launch of its Vikram-1 rocket and praising the contribution of India's emerging private space ecosystem.

Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said the discussions centred on the Vikram-1 mission, Skyroot's journey and the future of India's commercial space industry.

"A great interaction with Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka of Skyroot Aerospace. The success of Vikram-1 naturally featured prominently in our discussion, in addition to many other interesting subjects. Happy to hear about their journey so far and their insights on what lies ahead," Modi said.

"Their energy, ambition and positivity reflect the vibrant spirit of our private space ecosystem. Best wishes to the entire Skyroot team," he added.

The meeting comes days after Skyroot successfully launched Vikram-1, marking another milestone for India's private space sector. The company had earlier created history in November 2022 by launching Vikram-S, India's first privately developed rocket to reach space, demonstrating the country's growing capabilities beyond the government-led space programme.

Founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Hyderabad-based Skyroot was among the first startups to emerge after India began opening its space sector to private participation. The company focuses on developing small satellite launch vehicles aimed at serving the rapidly expanding global commercial launch market.

Following the meeting, Skyroot said the founders shared the company's journey, the successful Vikram-1 mission and its long-term vision for the future of space with the Prime Minister.

"The Hon'ble Prime Minister discussed our technology, long-term vision, and the opportunities ahead for India's private space ecosystem. His encouragement for young entrepreneurs and confidence in India's growing innovation ecosystem continue to inspire us," the company said in a post on X.

Skyroot also thanked the Centre for the reforms that opened India's space sector, while acknowledging the role played by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in enabling private spaceflight and the continued support of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through access to facilities and technical expertise.

Since 2020, India's space sector has undergone major policy reforms, allowing private companies to design, build and launch rockets and satellites. This has prompted a number of startups to enter the sector, with Skyroot emerging as one of its most prominent players through successive launch milestones and continued investments in launch vehicle technology.