With Skyroot at the head of the class, India's private space industry seeks to take off

India opened spaceflight to private firms in 2020, paving the way for a new commercial launch market.

Skyroot Aerospace has emerged as the frontrunner, with its Vikram-1 rocket nearing a potential first orbital launch.

Founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers, the Hyderabad-based startup was built for a future where private rockets were allowed.

The company recently raised $60 million at a $1.1 billion valuation, underscoring investor confidence in India’s space sector.

India’s move away from a state-only model could help it compete globally with launch players like SpaceX and Rocket Lab.