Vikram (rocket)

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The Vikram is a launch vehicle under development by the Indian start-up Skyroot Aerospace . It is intended for the launch of small satellites and is expected to complete its maiden flight in 2021. The rocket is named after the Indian space pioneer Vikram Sarabhai .

history

In 2017, which was Bill Space Activities Bill, 2017 introduced. He plans to open the Indian space market to private companies. In anticipation of the entry into force of this law, three former employees of the Indian space agency ISRO - Pawan Chandana, Naga Daka and Vasudevan Gnanagandhi - founded Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited in June 2018 . The start-up capital was provided by the founders of the Indian fitness and food company Curefit . Looking for further donors, Skyroot presented its Vikram missile project to the public in spring 2019 . In the autumn of the same year the company employed several dozen people.

technology

The Vikram is designed as a three-stage rocket and is to be offered in three variants. What they all have in common is a solid fuel drive of the first two stages. For the third stage, the smallest model Vikram I is also provided with a solid propulsion system, while the medium-sized Vikram II and the most powerful Vikram III version have a cryogenic liquid propulsion system . The latter uses methane as fuel and oxygen as oxidizer (both liquefied and extremely deep-frozen). The Vikram III also has six solid fuel boosters . The rocket motors are developed by Skyroot itself.

The manufacturer specifies 200, 410 and 480 kg as the maximum payload in a 500-kilometer-high sun-synchronous polar orbit. For non-polar orbits with a 45 °  orbit inclination at the same height, up to 280, 520 and 720 kg are planned. The rockets should be launchable from any location within 1-3 days.

Web links

  • Vikram on the Skyroot Aerospace website

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b CR Sukumar and Raghu Krishnan: With a simpler rocket, Skyroot Aerospace aims to hurl small satellites into space. In: The Economic Times . April 17, 2019, accessed April 18, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited. In: quickcompany.in. Retrieved April 18, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Skyroot Aerospace website , accessed April 18, 2019. Note: In February 2019, the website was still a construction site .
  4. ↑ a b [Tech 30] This spacetech startup by former ISRO scientists can put small satellites in orbit within a week. In: yourstory.com. October 15, 2019, accessed October 16, 2019 .
  5. ↑ a b Launch Vehicle - Vikram Series. Skyroot Aerospace, accessed April 18, 2019 .