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Vikram (rocket family)

The Vikram (Sanskrit, lit. 'Brave'; Namesake: Vikram Sarabhai^[1]) is a family of small-lift launch vehicles being developed by Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian startup aerospace company.

Before a full orbital launch, a suborbital flight of rocket designated Vikram-S was performed on 18 November 2022 by the name of mission Prarambh (Sanskrit, lit. 'beginning').^[2][3]

Overview[edit]

Skyroot Aerospace has successfully tested Vikram-S, the sounding rocket. Vikram-I is currently under development while the heavier launchers of Vikram-II and Vikram-III are proposed.

Vikram-I[edit]

The Vikram-I, first rocket in the series, has three solid fuel-powered stages each with a burn time ranging between 80 and 100 seconds and the final stage is Raman engine (Sanskrit, lit. 'enchanting', Namesake: C.V. Raman). The Raman engine is powered by MMH and NTO liquid fuels in a cluster of four engines that generate 3.4 kN thrust. These Raman Engines will be used to do final adjustments in the orbit of the stage.^[4] Vikram-I is designed to lift 290 kg to a 500 km Sun synchronous polar orbit (SSPO) and 480 kg to 45º inclination in a 500 km low Earth orbit (LEO).^[5][6]

Development and testing[edit]

• On 12 August 2020, Skyroot Aerospace successfully tested Vikram-I launch vehicle's upper stage engine Raman.^[9]
• On 21 September 2020, several Ballistic Evaluation Motors (BEM) were fired to fine tune and qualify Vikram-I Solid Stage Propellant formulation.^[10]
• On 22 December 2020, Skyroot conducted a successful test firing of a Solid rocket stage demonstrator 'Kalam-5'.^[11] The test was conducted at Solar Industries in Nagpur at 3 pm. The test cleared a 24 seconds long duration demonstration, achieving a peak thrust of 5.3 kN.^[12]
• On 20 June 2021, Vikram-I's third stage (Kalam-100) successfully completed the Proof Pressure Test (PPT).^[13]
• On 19 May 2022, has announced the successful completion of a full duration test-firing of its Vikram-I rocket stage, representing a major milestone for the company. Named 'Kalam-100' after former president and the renowned Indian rocket scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the third stage of Vikram-I produces a peak vacuum thrust of 100 kN (or ~10 Tons) and has a burn time of 108 sec. The rocket stage has been built with high-strength carbon fiber structure, solid fuel, novel thermal protection system, and carbon ablative nozzle. This testing will help Skyroot in development of orbital vehicle Vikram-I and gives great confidence for the other rocket stages planned to be tested soon. This is best in class rocket stage of this size, with record propellant loading and firing duration and using all carbon composite structure for delivering best performance. This is largest rocket stage ever designed, manufactured, and tested completely in the private sector. There was a good match of test results with the design predictions in the very first attempt, which is a testimony to the team's capabilities. The state-of-the-art technology like carbon composite case, high propellant volumetric loading up to 94%, lighter EPDM based thermal protection system, and submerged nozzle have been validated through the successful static test.^[14][15] The video of the firing^[16]

  

• On 18 November 2022, Skyroot Aerospace performed the maiden launch of the Vikram-S suborbital rocket, carrying payloads for Space Kidz, Bazoomq and N-Space Tech.^[17] The flight was successful, and the rocket reached an apogee of 89.5 km, making Skyroot Aerospace the first Indian private company to reach space.^[18]
• On 4 April 2023, Skyroot Aerospace announced the 200-second fire-endurance test of enhanced, fully 3D-printed 'Dhawan-II' cryogenic engine that will power the upper stage of Vikram-II. It was considered a milestone for the cryogenic engine program, fueling the accelerated development of Vikram series.^[19]
• On 21 June 2023, Skyroot Aerospace announced the successful flight qualification testing of the Raman-I engine to be used for roll attitude control of the Vikram-I rocket. As Vikram-I launches to space, aerodynamic disturbances and thrust misalignments can make the vehicle roll about its axis, needing a responsive roll-control system. It is provided by four Raman-I engines through precise pulses, commanded by the autopilot algorithm of mission computer. Raman is a series of engines/thrusters using earth storable hypergolic propellants for upper stage engine and attitude/reaction control in Vikram-I. Supported by ISRO and IN-SPACe, this test was done at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO by a private company.^[20]
• On 4 July 2023, Skyroot Aerospace successfully completed the carbon-fiber winding and curing of Stage-1 motor case for Vikram-I. With 1.7 meters diameter and 10 meters long, this was the largest hardware the company ever manufactured, and was built meticulously in-house using a multi-axis high precision robotic machine, powered by proprietary software. This stage, named 'Kalam 1200', is designed to generate a peak thrust of 120 tons. ^[21]
• On 10 July 2023, Vikram-I Stage-2 'Kalam-250' achieved the successful qualification test firing of its igniter. The igniter is used to safely, reliably and rapidly induce a combustion reaction in a solid rocket motor in a controlled and predictable manner under extreme temperature, pressure and vibration environments.^[22]
• On 18 December 2023, Skyroot successfully conducted a proof pressure test on Kalam-1200, the first stage of Vikram-I rocket. Kalam-1200 is made up of ultra-light, high strength carbon composite and was subjected to extreme combustion pressure of 82.5 atmosphere.^[23]

Launch history[edit]

S.No	Date / time (UTC)	Rocket, Configuration	Launch site	Payload	Orbit	Customer	Status	Note
1.	18 November 2022	Vikram-S	Satish Dhawan		Suborbital	—	Success	First launch from a private Indian space agency.
2.	Q1 2024	Vikram-I	Satish Dhawan FLP		Low Earth	TBA	Planned	Maiden flight of Vikram 1 rocket.
3.	Q2 2024	Vikram-I	Satish Dhawan		Low Earth	TBA	Planned
4.	Q3 2024	Vikram-I	Satish Dhawan		Low Earth	TBA	Planned
5.	Q4 2024	Vikram-I	Satish Dhawan		Low Earth	TBA	Planned

See also[edit]

• Vikram-S
• Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
• List of orbital launch systems
• Small-lift launch vehicle
• Launch vehicle

References[edit]