Context

In a historic moment Vikram-S, India’s first privately-developed rocket, lifted off from the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) launch pad in Sriharikota, under the ‘Prarambh’ Mission.

About

About Vikram-S Rocket:

• Named after: Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of India’s space programme.
• Developed by: Skyroot Aerospace with support from ISRO and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Centre.
• The Vikram-S rocket is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle.
• It carried three customer payloads and help test and validate technologies in the Vikram series space launch vehicles.
• Engine: Its engine was developed using 3D printing with a superalloy.
• The engine used in the launch vehicle is named after former president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, ‘Kalam-80’.
  
  
  

Significance of privatization of the space sector

• Low costs: It has allowed companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, etc. to cut their costs substantially and perform operations at reduced costs.
• Creating widespread interest: The publicity of their operations, like live streaming launches, has sparked widespread interest in space exploration among the general public.
• Quick decision-making: There is quick decision-making in private companies while the same process in a public enterprise would have to pass through several stages.
• Higher autonomy: private companies have a greater degree of autonomy in making decisions, which enables them to take up new projects.