NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met with Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, the visionary founders of Skyroot Aerospace, and warmly congratulated them on the successful launch of the Vikram-1 mission.
The Prime Minister described the interaction as an engaging and highly promising discussion on India’s rapidly growing private space ecosystem.
The meeting follows the historic July 18 launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, which successfully reached a nearly 450-km orbit, officially making India one of the few nations where a private entity has accomplished such a feat.
‘A Vibrant Spirit’
In a post on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi shared details of the meeting, stating that the success of Vikram-1 naturally took center stage during their conversation.
“A great interaction with Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka of Skyroot Aerospace. The success of Vikram-1 naturally featured prominently in our discussion, in addition to many other interesting subjects. Happy to hear about their journey so far and their insights on what lies ahead. Their energy, ambition and positivity reflect the vibrant spirit of our private space ecosystem. Best wishes to the entire Skyroot team,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister had earlier spoken to the young founders over the phone immediately after the Vikram-1 launch, telling them they had “not only planted a new tree in space, but a new root has also been strengthened on the ground to inspire the new generation”.
Skyroot’s Long-Term Vision
Following the interaction in New Delhi, Skyroot Aerospace expressed that its founders were deeply honored to meet the Prime Minister and formally share the company’s ongoing journey and its expansive long-term vision for India’s commercial space sector.
In their own post on X, the company noted that the Prime Minister thoroughly discussed their space technology, their long-term developmental plans, and the vast opportunities rapidly emerging for India’s private space ecosystem. Skyroot added that the Prime Minister’s strong encouragement for young entrepreneurs and his deep confidence in India’s innovation ecosystem continue to significantly inspire the team.
The company also took the opportunity to acknowledge the vital governmental reforms that originally opened India’s strictly regulated space sector to private participation. They specifically thanked:
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IN-SPACe: For actively enabling and regulating private spaceflight.
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ISRO: For providing crucial facilities, technical expertise, and deep collaboration that have helped companies like Skyroot transform innovative ideas into highly successful space missions.
Reaffirming their commitment to advancing India’s powerful presence in the highly competitive global space industry, the company stated, “The journey has only just begun. Onwards, from India to the world”.
