‘Fastest to space will decide AI, 6G leadership’:Says Skyroot founder Pawan Kumar as India’s 1st private orbital rocket Vikram-1 nears liftoff

India’s first private orbital rocket, Vikram-1, is ready for launch. Skyroot Aerospace has announced a launch window between July 12 and August 4 for its maiden test flight. The mission marks the first major test of India’s private space capabilities. A successful launch will enable smaller satellites to be placed into orbit faster and on demand, strengthening services such as agriculture, communications, navigation and national security. If Vikram-1 succeeds, India will join a select group of countries capable of reaching orbit through private-sector launch providers. Ahead of the launch, Skyroot Aerospace founder Pawan Kumar Chandana spoke to Dainik Bhaskar. Here are the key excerpts from the interview, in his own words. From maps to digital payments: Space technology already powers everyday life If you use maps on your phone or make digital payments, satellites are already working behind the scenes. Navigation apps determine your precise location using satellite-based navigation signals, while services such as UPI rely on internet and communication networks that are strengthened by satellites, particularly in remote areas. More satellites will bring faster internet, smarter farming and stronger public services As satellite networks expand, demand for launches will increase many times over. At present, most Indian satellites are launched by ISRO. In the coming years, however, the number of satellites is expected to grow rapidly. ISRO will increasingly focus on ambitious missions such as Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan and India’s planned space station, while private companies like Skyroot will launch smaller satellites frequently and on demand. This will improve weather forecasting, internet connectivity, agriculture, disaster management and communication services. Small satellites are driving the next revolution in space technology The global space industry is moving away from a handful of large, expensive satellites towards constellations of hundreds of smaller satellites. Advances in electronics have dramatically reduced the size of satellite components, allowing compact spacecraft to perform tasks that once required much larger satellites. Smaller satellites also offer better coverage, greater reliability and lower costs. Since they typically have a lifespan of five to eight years, they must be replaced regularly, ensuring sustained demand for satellite launches. Why Skyroot’s launch model is different from SpaceX Skyroot is often compared with SpaceX, but Chandana says the two companies serve different needs. He compares the difference to travelling by train versus taking a cab. A train runs on fixed routes and schedules, while a cab takes passengers wherever they need to go, whenever they choose. Likewise, SpaceX generally deploys satellites into predetermined orbits, whereas Vikram-1 is designed to place satellites into customised orbits based on customer requirements. As demand for dedicated satellite missions grows, such on-demand launch services are expected to become increasingly important. India is entering the stage where SpaceX once began According to Chandana, India today is at a stage similar to where the US was 15 to 20 years ago, when companies such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab were developing their launch capabilities through repeated flight tests. “The biggest lesson in rocket science is that technology cannot be perfected entirely on the ground. It evolves through actual flights,” he says. Frequent testing, rapid improvements and continuous launches are essential to building a competitive space industry. ISRO will take on bigger missions while private firms scale up launches India’s space ecosystem is entering a new phase. After building the country’s technological foundation over six decades, ISRO is expected to focus increasingly on landmark missions such as Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan and the proposed Indian space station. Private companies like Skyroot, meanwhile, will take responsibility for frequent, low-cost satellite launches—following the model adopted by leading spacefaring nations. The biggest challenge isn’t building satellites—it’s launching them on time The number of small satellites worldwide is rising rapidly, but launch capacity has not expanded at the same pace. As a result, many satellite operators are forced to wait months—or even years—for launch opportunities. Skyroot’s objective is to solve this bottleneck by providing reliable launches whenever customers need them. In the next decade, space will become as ordinary as the internet Over the next 10 to 15 years, Chandana believes space technology will become an invisible but essential part of everyday life. Fishermen will have reliable connectivity at sea. Flood warnings will arrive earlier. Weather forecasts will become more accurate. AI systems will receive richer datasets, while high-speed internet will reach even remote villages. “People may not always realise it,” he says, “but satellites in space will be enabling all of these services.”