Key Highlights
- Infinity Campus: A state-of-the-art facility spread across 200,000 sq ft, designed for developing, integrating, and testing multiple launch vehicles.
- Production Capacity: The campus can build one orbital rocket every month, accelerating India’s private space manufacturing capabilities.
- Vikram‑1 Rocket: Skyroot’s first commercial orbital launch vehicle, capable of carrying satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- Historic Context: Skyroot had earlier made history in November 2022 by launching Vikram‑S, India’s first privately built sub-orbital rocket.
PM Modi’s Remarks
- PM Modi praised India’s youth power, innovation, and entrepreneurship, noting how the opening of the space sector has enabled startups like Skyroot to thrive.
- He emphasized that India’s space journey, powered by ISRO’s credibility and capacity, is now entering a new era of cooperation and private participation.
- Modi highlighted that in just six to seven years, India has transformed its space ecosystem into an open, innovation-driven sector, encouraging Gen Z entrepreneurs to take bold steps.
Why This Matters
- Boost to Private Space Industry: Skyroot’s Infinity Campus is India’s largest private rocket manufacturing facility, symbolizing the country’s shift toward privatization in space exploration.
- Global Competitiveness: With Vikram‑1, India joins the league of nations where private companies can build and launch orbital rockets.
- Economic Impact: Skyroot plans to invest ₹1,000 crore to develop rapid, on-demand rocket manufacturing and launch capabilities.
- Innovation Ecosystem: The move strengthens India’s position in the global space economy, opening opportunities for startups, research, and satellite deployment.
Takeaway
The inauguration of Skyroot’s Infinity Campus and unveiling of Vikram‑1 rocket is a landmark moment for India’s private space sector. It reflects the country’s ambition to become a global hub for space innovation, with PM Modi’s support signaling strong government backing for entrepreneurial ventures in aerospace.