Skyroot Aerospace plans own launch pad as India’s private space sector expands

Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram‑1, the first privately developed Indian orbital rocket, placing multiple payloads into orbit. Following the historic mission, the company announced plans to build its own launch pad, while continuing to use ISRO’s facilities for upcoming flights. Co‑founder and CEO Pawan Chandana said the new complex will give Skyroot greater scheduling flexibility and support its growth in the global small‑satellite market.

India’s private space activities are currently governed by a patchwork of executive policies and guidelines, such as IN‑SPACe, the Indian Space Policy (2023) and recent FDI and venture‑fund initiatives. A dedicated Space Activities Bill, first proposed in 2017, is under inter‑ministerial review but has not yet been approved. The lack of a comprehensive space act has prompted industry calls for clearer legal safeguards as the sector expands, now comprising over 400 startups and a space economy valued at about USD 8 billion.