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India launches its first private rocket into space

Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace launched the country’s first privately developed rocket, the Vikram-S, into space this Friday (18) with support from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Until now, the country’s space industry was dominated by state-owned ISRO, but Skyroot Aerospace has opened up the sector to private companies.

“The rocket launch will help test and validate most of the technologies in the Vikram series of orbital-class space launch vehicles, including many subsystems and technologies that will be tested in the pre-lift and post-launch phases of the launch,” according to with Skyroot Aerospace.

The rocket, weighing 546 kilograms, was launched into space from the Sriharikota port and reached an altitude of 89.5 kilometers.

This mission symbolizes not only India’s first private rocket launch, but also “the potential of the new India”, said Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder of Skyroot Aerospace after the launch.

Skyroot Aerospace was launched in 2018 and is headquartered in the tech hub of South Hyderabad. It was founded by former ISRO engineers and has raised $68 million in funding, according to data firm Tracxn.

Last year, it became the first startup to enter into an agreement with ISRO to use the Indian space agency’s expertise and access facilities.

The space race in the private sector is heating up around the world. Last year, billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson took supersonic rides to the edge of space.

Source: CNN Brasil

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