Modi Calls Skyroot Team Following Successful Vikram-1 Launch

A sudden ringtone cut through the cheers at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, marking a personal intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moments after the Vikram-1 rocket successfully cleared the pad, the Prime Minister dialed in to personally congratulate the Skyroot Aerospace team, declaring that they had made the nation proud.

Editorial·July 18, 2026·reads: 378

Modi Calls Skyroot Team Following Successful Vikram-1 Launch

Addressing CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana and his engineers, Modi highlighted the achievement as a vindication of his faith in India’s young workforce. With an average team age of just 28, the group behind the 'Aagaman' mission has effectively signaled a shift in the country's private space sector. The Prime Minister spent nine minutes on the call, framing the launch not merely as a technical success, but as a realization of national aspirations.

Chandana revealed that a handwritten note reading 'Vande Mataram' accompanied the rocket into space, a detail the Prime Minister connected to the 150th anniversary of the national song. Modi emphasized that the gesture was intended to inspire the next generation, closing the conversation with a directive for the team to continue their trajectory. The call concluded with the Prime Minister promising his ongoing support as the company looks toward future milestones.