Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Test Fires Stage-2 of Vikram-1 Orbital Rocket

• ByStartupStory     |    March 29, 2024

Skyroot Aerospace has achieved a groundbreaking milestone with the successful test-firing of the Stage-2 propulsion system of its Vikram-1 space launch vehicle. Dubbed Kalam-250, the test took place at the propulsion testbed of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) within the confines of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

According to a press release issued by Skyroot Aerospace on Thursday, the test, conducted on Wednesday, lasted an impressive 85 seconds and recorded a peak sea-level thrust of 186 kilonewtons (kN). This thrust, the release notes, is expected to translate to a fully expanded vacuum thrust of approximately 235 kN during flight.

The Kalam-250 boasts a high-strength carbon composite rocket motor and employs solid fuel alongside a high-performance Ethylene-Propylene-Diene terpolymers (EPDM) thermal protection system (TPS), making it a formidable force in India’s space exploration endeavors.

Pawan Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “This is a significant milestone for the Indian space industry, marking the successful test of the largest propulsion system ever designed and manufactured by the Indian private sector so far, and the first carbon composite-built motor tested at ISRO.”

Furthermore, Chandana highlighted the importance of the successful test in propelling the company closer to the anticipated orbital launch of the Vikram-1 rocket.

Naga Bharath Daka, Co-Founder and COO of Skyroot, underscored the critical nature of the test, particularly in validating the flex nozzle control system—an essential component for launch operations. “In this landmark test, we validated the critical system for the launch—the flex nozzle control system—during firing for the first time, making this an important milestone in our journey,” Daka remarked.

Daka also expressed the company’s commitment to achieving forthcoming milestones in the lead-up to the maiden orbital launch of the Vikram-1 in 2024.

The press release further noted the significant contribution of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), another arm of ISRO, which supplied its proprietary head-mounted safe arm (HMSA) for the test. The HMSA played a crucial role in ensuring the safe operation of the rocket stage during the test.

Follow Startup Story