Pawan Kumar Chandana | Co-Founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace
India’s space industry is entering a transformative era, driven by private-sector innovation, advanced engineering and a growing global demand for satellite-launch services. At the forefront of this change is Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based space technology company founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. With a mission to make space more accessible, Skyroot is building a new generation of launch vehicles designed to serve the evolving needs of the global satellite industry.
From Scientific Expertise to Entrepreneurial Vision
Pawan Kumar Chandana’s journey reflects the growing ambition of India’s technology entrepreneurs. After studying mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur, he joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where he gained valuable experience in rocket development and space engineering. Inspired by the possibilities of India’s emerging startup ecosystem, he took the entrepreneurial leap in 2018, co-founding Skyroot with the goal of bringing private innovation into the country’s space-launch sector.
His vision extends beyond building rockets. It focuses on creating reliable, efficient and economically viable access to space, enabling businesses, researchers and satellite operators to pursue opportunities that were once limited by cost and availability.
Engineering a New Generation of Launch Vehicles
Skyroot’s core offering is its Vikram series of launch vehicles, developed to support small-satellite deployment and provide flexible launch options. Named in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme, the series reflects a commitment to indigenous technology and engineering excellence.
The company achieved a landmark in November 2022 with the successful launch of Vikram-S under Mission Prarambh. The mission marked an important milestone for India’s private space industry, demonstrating that a privately developed Indian rocket could successfully reach space.
Building on this foundation, Skyroot developed Vikram-I, its orbital launch vehicle designed to carry small satellites into orbit. The vehicle incorporates advanced technologies, including carbon-composite structures and a 3D-printed liquid engine, with the aim of improving manufacturing efficiency and launch flexibility.
In July 2026, Skyroot achieved another defining milestone when Vikram-I successfully reached orbit on its maiden flight, Mission Aagaman. The achievement represented a significant step forward for India’s private space sector and strengthened the company’s position in the emerging commercial launch market.
Innovation, Reliability and Global Opportunity
Skyroot’s approach combines sophisticated aerospace engineering with the agility of a technology startup. Its development capabilities span propulsion systems, avionics, composite structures and launch-vehicle integration. These capabilities are essential in an industry where precision, safety and performance are critical.
The company’s long-term strategy is centred on providing responsive launch services, including dedicated missions and rideshare opportunities. As satellite applications expand across telecommunications, Earth observation, navigation, agriculture and disaster management, dependable access to orbit is becoming increasingly important.
For satellite operators, flexible launch solutions can help address scheduling constraints and mission-specific requirements. By developing its own launch vehicles and manufacturing capabilities, Skyroot aims to contribute to a more competitive and accessible commercial space ecosystem.
Leadership with a Long-Term Perspective
As Co-Founder and CEO, Pawan Kumar Chandana represents a generation of Indian entrepreneurs translating scientific expertise into globally relevant businesses. His leadership combines technical understanding with a broader vision of industrial development, indigenous innovation and international market participation.
Skyroot’s progress also highlights the importance of collaboration among engineers, investors, suppliers, policymakers and the wider space community. The company’s journey demonstrates how entrepreneurial initiative, supported by scientific capability, can help expand the boundaries of national technological achievement.
Looking Ahead: Opening Space for All
Skyroot Aerospace’s ambitions extend well beyond a single successful mission. Its planned Vikram-II vehicle is intended to offer greater payload capacity and additional orbital flexibility, supporting the company’s longer-term growth in the commercial launch market.
As demand for satellite-based services continues to rise, the ability to deliver payloads reliably and efficiently will remain a defining competitive advantage. Skyroot’s continued investment in engineering, manufacturing and launch capabilities positions it to pursue opportunities in India and international markets.
Under Pawan Kumar Chandana’s leadership, Skyroot Aerospace is helping reshape perceptions of what India’s private space sector can accomplish. Its journey from a startup founded by former space scientists to a company achieving orbital launch success illustrates the power of ambition backed by engineering discipline.
The company’s mission, “Opening Space for All,” captures a broader aspiration: to make space more accessible, encourage innovation and create new possibilities for the global space economy. For India, Skyroot’s progress is not merely a business success story; it is a compelling example of homegrown technology reaching for a global frontier.