Skyroot Aerospace is preparing to launch Vikram-1, India's first privately-developed orbital rocket, from the Indian Space Research Organisation's facility on Saturday. If the test flight succeeds, India would join the US and China as the only nations with private sector orbital launch capability. The company, valued at $1.1 billion as India's first space-tech unicorn, plans to place six payloads into Low Earth Orbit during the 16-minute mission.

Skyroot's business model centres on offering dedicated launch services for small satellites—described as a 'cab to space' model—to address the current industry bottleneck where satellite operators wait months or years for launch opportunities. The test mission carries both practical payloads such as space debris removal equipment and symbolic items including a lab-grown diamond lotus and a miniature gold rocket bearing microscopic sculptures of three pioneering Indian scientists, representing the company's connection to India's space programme heritage.