The country's first privately made rocket successfully lifted off Sriharikota on Friday, with the vehicle named as a tribute to the father of India's space programme, Vikram Sarabhai.
Vikram-S was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from its spaceport about 115 km from Chennai. Symbolising a new start, the mission has been named 'Prarambh' (the beginning).
Developed by four-year-old startup Skyroot Aerospace, today's event marks the private sector's maiden foray into the launch vehicle segment, after the space segment was thrown open to private players in 2020.
The 6-metre tall Vikram-S will soar to an altitude of around 81 km after its launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, carrying 2 domestic payloads and one from a foreign customer.
Also watch: Former SpaceX employees sue Elon Musk for firing them unfairly