Vikram-S

Why in news?

• India’s first-ever privately developed rocket named “Vikram S” is ready for launch.

About Vikram-S:

• Vikram-S is India’s first privately manufactured rocket being developed by Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based startup in the aerospace business.
• It is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle that will carry three client payloads and assist test and verifying most of the technology in the Vikram family of space launch vehicles.
  • Sub-orbital flight are those vehicles which are travelling slower than the orbital velocity – meaning it is fast enough to reach outer space but not fast enough to stay in an orbit around the Earth.
• Skyroot is designing three Vikram rockets that will use various solid and cryogenic fuels to carry between 290 kg and 560 kg payloads to sun-synchronous polar orbits.

Add ons:

• Vikram vehicles offer unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion, interplanetary missions while providing customized, dedicated and ride-share options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs.
• Vikram rocket can be assembled and launched within 24 hours from any launch site and has the “lowest cost in the payload segment”.

PRACTICE QUESTION

With reference to ‘Vikram-S’ rocket, consider the following statements

1. It is India’s first-ever privately developed rocket

2. It is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer