OPINION | Private participation in India’s space ecosystem will reach a milestone in 2026 with rocket launches

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As India’s private space sector gains momentum, satellite makers have taken off successfully—both figuratively and literally. Several have launched their spacecraft and even won government contracts. But one question still lingers: where are the private rockets?

A few Indian satellites have already hitched rides on SpaceX rockets, while a consortium led by PixxelSpace India recently won a major government tender with an innovative “zero bid” proposal to launch and operate a constellation of 12 Earth observation satellites. Yet, the missing piece in India’s growing space puzzle remains the private launch vehicle.

The critical link in a $44-billion dream 

Rockets—or satellite launch vehicles—form the backbone of any space economy. India aims to expand its space sector to $44 billion by 2033, including $11 billion in exports, up from the current $8.4 billion.

Globally, the satellite launch market is expected to rise from $12 billion to about $40 billion by 2035.

Despite this potential, the lion’s share of revenues continues to flow to satellite manufacturers and operators, leaving rocket makers with a modest slice of the pie.

Skyroot and Agnikul: India’s rocket hopefuls 

Two Indian startups, Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos, are inching closer to achieving orbital launches after weathering delays and shifting targets. Both have already demonstrated sub-orbital flights—missions that soar into space but do not orbit Earth.

As the saying goes, “It’s not called rocket science for nothing.” And for these companies, the journey has indeed been complex. The pandemic years slowed their progress, but both are now entering crucial development phases involving extensive testing before full-fledged orbital launches.

Skyroot Aerospace: Ready for lift-off 

Based in Hyderabad, Skyroot Aerospace appears poised for a launch by January 2026. The company plans to send multiple cube satellites into orbit aboard its Vikram rocket from ISRO’s Sriharikota launch site. Within 15 minutes of liftoff, the cubesats will deploy via an ultra-low-shock pneumatic separation system.

In October 2025, Skyroot successfully tested the Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM) of its Vikram-1 rocket—a crucial stage that delivers the precise velocity “kick” (delta-v) needed to position satellites accurately. The OAM can also perform multiple restarts to deploy satellites into different orbits.

A notable innovation is Skyroot’s use of carbon-fibre composites, which are significantly lighter than steel, making its rockets more efficient. 

Agnikul Cosmos: Printing the future 

Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos is treading a different technological path. The company has constructed its own private launchpad at Sriharikota and embraced additive manufacturing (3D printing) to produce engines and rocket components for its Agnibaan series.

Its world-first single-piece 3D-printed engine, which powered a sub-orbital flight, also marked India’s first semi-cryogenic engine flight. The same mission achieved several other milestones:

*First private launch from Indian soil 

*First Indian launch powered by Linux 5-based computers 

*First Ethernet-based flight control system in India 

*First flight using aviation-grade jet fuel and industrial liquid oxygen. 

Agnikul holds a U.S. patent for its single-piece engine design and is exploring component reuse to reduce costs and orbital debris. The company expects to conduct its first orbital launch by early 2026, pending successful completion of more tests.

A growing challenge 

Both Skyroot and Agnikul are developing rockets capable of carrying 300 kg payloads to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). However, they face mounting competition—not just globally, where European startups are proliferating, but also domestically.

Many Indian satellite firms still prefer SpaceX for its proven reliability and cost-efficiency. 

Even ISRO, with its four different rockets, struggles to maintain a steady stream of foreign launch contracts. The trend toward lighter satellites in lower orbits could also shrink the overall market size in the years ahead.

A silver lining 

Despite these headwinds, there’s optimism. ISRO’s roadmap includes the launch of 119 Earth observation satellites by 2040 and 160 communication satellites, of which 140 will be positioned in LEO (low Earth orbit) and MEO (medium Earth orbit).

These missions alone could provide opportunities for domestic launch providers.

The distribution of Earth observation satellites is expected to be:

*1 satellite under 100 kg 

*9 satellites between 100–200 kg 

*66 satellites between 200–500 kg 

*38 satellites between 500–1,000 kg 

*5 satellites over 1,000 kg 

As India’s private rocket industry prepares for its next phase, the question remains: can these startups propel India’s space ambitions to new heights—or will the country continue to rely on foreign rockets to carry its satellites into orbit?