Indian private space company Skyroot says tests of rocket successful

Skyroot, India's first privately held company to design, build and test a solid rocket propulsion system, successfully ran a full-duration test of the rocket's third stage Vikram-I last week.

Vikram-I is propelled by three solid fuel stages, plus a liquid-fueled stage vehicle for the small satellite launch market, carrying up to 480 kilograms into low-orbits - scandinaviannews.net reports.

Skyroot is developing three rockets to carry heavier loads into space, officials said.

CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana confirmed that the test-firing of the rocket stage took place at a private test range in Nagpur City, India, according to TechCrunch.

The company has received some $15 million in funding to cover this stage of rocket development, Chandana said.

Skyroot is currently raising outside funding to take the company to "multiple orbital launches," he said, with a technology demonstration to be launched by the end of 2022.

Officials hope that the first commercial orbital mission could be launched early in 2023 from India's spaceport on Sriharikota Island.

If such a launch is successful, Skyroot would become the first private Indian company to build and launch private rockets.