Vikram S: India’s first private satellite vehicle

15 Nov 2022 Vikram S: India’s first private satellite vehicle

Significance for Prelims: Mission ‘Prarambh’; Vikram-S; Polar Satellites Launch Vehicles(PSLV); Small satellite launch vehicles

Significance for Mains: Importance of private players in Indian space sectors. 

News: Mission ‘Prarambh’ of Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace will carry Indian as well as foreign payloads on India’s first privately developed launch vehicle ‘Vikram’.It will make its maiden flight on November 15 from the Sriharikota launchpad of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 

Mission Prarambh:

• Under Mission Prarambh Vikram-S will carry three client satellites in a sub-orbital flight.
• Satellites carried by Vikram-S:  Two Indian and one foreign payload.
• Spacekidz (an aerospace startup based in Chennai) will also fly ‘Fun-Sat’, a 2.5 kg payload on Vikram-S.’Fun-Sat’ is developed by students from India, the US, Singapore and Indonesia. 

Features of Vikram launch vehicles:

• Skyroot(startup) signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with ISRO for launching its rockets. 
• Skyroot’s launch vehicle is named ‘Vikram’ in tribute to the founder of the Indian space programme, Vikram Sarabhai. 
• Vikram I, II, and III are three types of Vikram launch vehicles. 
• Its launch vehicles are specially crafted for the small satellite market. 
• Vikram vehicles offer capabilities like multi-orbit insertion and interplanetary missions with its technology architecture. 
• Vikram vehicles tend to cover small satellite customers through customised, dedicated and ride-share options.
• Vikram rocket can be launched from any site as it can be assembled and launched within 24 hours. 

Importance of satellite launch vehicles like Vikram:

• Big leap in  India’s space exploration sector: Skyroot claims that with  Vikram’s successful launch “Launching satellites to space will soon become as easy as booking a cab — Quick, precise and affordable!”
• This will help to meet the increasing demand for the launch of small satellites:  In the last, eight to ten years demand launch of small satellites increased at a rapid pace with the growth of requirements for space-based data, communication, surveillance, and commerce.
• Now,  the need for satellite data imageries and space technology cuts across sectors, from weather to agriculture to transport to urban development.
• Vikram-S rocket has the lowest cost in the payload segment. 
• Unprecedented mass producibility and affordability of the Vikram series will help to meet future needs as more than 20000 satellites are estimated to be launched in the coming decade. 
• Meet the demands of small satellites when more and more businesses, government agencies, and even universities and laboratories begin to send satellites.
• Opening the space sector for private players will reduce the burden of ISRO: ISRO is outrunning its capacity of launching satellites into space due to increasing demand and larger goals of ISRO.
• Usage of ISRO facilities will provide much-needed revenue to the ISRO: ISRO is helping private players with facilities and knowledge at a nominal charge.

Further reading:

1. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
2. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
3. Cryogenic Engine.

UPSC Prelims Question(2018):

With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:

1. PSLVs launch the satellite useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location in Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 3 only

UPSC Mains Question(2016):

1. Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socioeconomic development?

Sources: The Hindu; The Indian Express

Articles: India’s first private satellite vehicle to launch on Nov 15: All you need to know about Vikram S, and why it is a big deal; India’s first private launch vehicle all set for maiden flight; India’s first private rocket to be launched between November 12-16

Article Links:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/private-satellite-vehicle-all-you-need-to-know-about-vikram-8259258/ 

https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/indias-first-private-launch-vehicle-all-set-for-maiden-flight-8257241/ 

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indias-first-private-rocket-to-be-launched-between-november-12-16/article66111011.ece 

sharad