00:00This is Vikram 1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket and it just cleared one of the most crucial hurdles in its journey to space,
00:07with the successful completion of the Payload Fairing Separation Test.
00:11A historic moment not just for the Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, but also for India's private space sector.
00:17Well, the successful completion of the Payload Fairing Separation Test brings Vikram 1 a major step closer to its debut launch.
00:23The PLF, or the Payload Fairing, is the rocket's nose cone, a shield that protects satellites from the intense heat and pressure during liftoff.
00:31But once the rocket escapes Earth's atmosphere, this bulky shell must separate flawlessly to allow the satellite payload to continue its journey to the orbit.
00:39Any malfunction during this separation could jeopardize the mission.
00:43And Vikram 1 isn't just any rocket.
00:45Now, the Vikram 1 is going to be the first of a series of Vikram class of rockets, which will be the first private sector rockets to launch a payload into space.
00:54It's designed to carry up to 480 kg to low Earth orbit and 290 kg to sun-synchronous orbit, offering cost-effective and on-demand satellite launches.
01:04With a unique modular structure, it can be assembled and launched within just 24 hours from any launch site.
01:10The rocket features three solid fuel stages and a liquid-fueled fourth stage, powered by Skyroot's Raman engines, enabling precise multi-orbit satellite deployments.
01:19Now, after multiple design iterations, simulations and rigorous ground testing, Skyroot's engineers have now validated the separation mechanism, a feat that confirms Vikram 1's readiness for flight.
01:31Of course, we're several years behind the rest of the world when it comes to getting the private sector into space.
01:36You have a very competitive public sector undertaking, which is ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organization.
01:42But now, you're going to have the private sector in.
01:45With the PLF separation test successfully behind them, Skyroot Aerospace is now focused on final preparation for the Vikram 1 launch, anticipated later this year in 2025.
01:55Skyroot and companies like Skyroot are the beneficiaries of this liberalization of the space sector,
02:00which allows space private sector companies to launch their own satellites and to launch satellites not just for Indian customers but for international customers and be competitive on the world stage.
