Skyroot Aerospace

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Skyroot Aerospace
TypePrivate
IndustryAerospace industry
FoundedJune 12, 2018; 3 years ago (2018-06-12)
Founder
  • Pawan Kumar Chandana
  • Naga Bharath Daka
Headquarters
Hyderabad
,
India
Key people
Pawan Kumar Chandana (Co-founder, CEO & CTO)
Naga Bharath Daka (COO)
ProductsVikram I
Vikram II
Vikram III
ServicesLaunch vehicle
RevenuePre-Revenue
Members
  • Pawan Kumar Chandana (CEO & CTO)
  • Naga Bharath Daka (COO, Head Avionics & GNC)
  • V Gnanagandhi (Sr. Vice President, Propulsion)
  • V. Eswaran (Vice President, Propulsion)
  • Mukesh Bansal (Board of Directors & Advisor)
  • M Amardeep (Director - Vehicle Engineering)
  • M Yagnanarayana (Chief Designer & Lead - Fluid Control Components)
  • Dr. A. Subhananda Rao (Chief Consultant & Advisor - Propulsion)
  • Ignatious C.A (Advisor - Avionics)
  • P. Sireesh (Lead - Business Development)
  • Dr. C. V. S. Kiran (Lead - R&D and Strategy)
  • Kunal Gupta (Lead - Org. Strategy and Investments)
Websiteskyroot.in

Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and commercial launch service provider headquartered in Hyderabad.[1][2] The company was founded by former engineers and scientists from ISRO. It aims to develop and launch its own series of small lift launch vehicles especially crafted for the small satellite market.

History[]

Skyroot Aerospace was formed on July 2018 by former Indian Space Research Organisation scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana, Naga Bharath Daka through the support of Vasudevan Gnanagandhi as well as a small group of entrepreneurs including CureFit founders Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagor.[3] Skyroot has raised $4.3 million, including from space and defence contractor Solar Industries, and is aiming to secure another $15 million in funding by 2021.

The company has been developing its first launch vehicle, the “Vikram-I,” which is on track for its initial launch around the end of 2022.[4][5]

On 6th October 2020, the National Startup Awards 2020 were declared by the Union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal, where Skyroot Aerospace has emerged as the winner. The National Startup Awards are given in recognition of startups across several categories that offer novel solutions for complex problems in the country, and creating businesses that are scalable and sustainable.[6]

On 20 November 2020, Skyroot Aerospace entered into a memorandum of understanding with Dhruva Space, an Indian private satellite manufacturer.

On 2 February 2021, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Skyroot Aerospace signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The NDA will allow Skyroot Aerospace to access the facilities and technical expertise in ISRO centers to develop their launch vehicles. [7] On 8 February 2021, Skyroot Aerospace Announced that they partnered with Bellatrix Aerospace to use the Orbital Transfer Vehicle of Bellatrix Aerospace with their Vikram series of Launch Vehicles. [8]

In March 2021, Skyroot Aerospace team won the Aegis Graham Bell Award for Jury choice award under innovation category for the year 2020.[9]

On 20th May 2021, Skyroot Aerospace has raised $11 million in Series A funding round led by promoters of renewable energy firm Greenko Group (Anil Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli), with participation of investors including Solar Industries and former WhatsApp Chief Business Office (CBO) Neeraj Arora, Mukesh Bansal founder of Myntra & Curefit, Worldquant Ventures, Graph Ventures, Sutton Capital, Vedanshu Investments and few other angels. Skyroot Aerospace will be deploying these funds to grow its team and complete the full development and testing of all subsystems of Vikram-1 launch vehicle. Skyroot has already started bookings for launches starting end 2022 and are actively engaging global customers[10]

The Department of Space has signed its first-ever agreement with Skyroot Aerospace for providing it access to ISRO's facilities and expertise towards testing of sub-systems and systems of launch vehicles. Skyroot Aerospace has, therefore, become the first Indian startup to formally enter into an agreement with ISRO for using its assets since the announcement of the new policy decision of the Government of India in May 2020, when finance minister opened up the space sector and ISRO facilities for private players. Finally on 11th September 2021, ISRO’s scientific secretary and chairman of interim IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) committee R Umamaheswaran, who represented Department of Space, Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana and COO Naga Bharath Daka signed this framework MoU.[11]

On 22nd September 2021, the list of "The 2021 LinkedIn Top Startups" was revealed with 25 young, emerging companies where India wants to work. Skyroot Aerospace was ranked 7th on this LinkedIn's 2021 Top Startups List in India.[12]

Solid-propellant rocket[]

Main article: Solid-propellant rocket

Raman-1[]

In August 2020, Skyroot first came into the limelight when it test-fired the Raman-I (named after C. V. Raman) hypergolic-fuel upper stage. This solid-fuel upper stage is a component of Vikram-I and Skyroot was the first Indian private entity to test such a stage.[13][14][15][16]

Kalam-5[]

On 22 December 2020, Skyroot tested the solid-fuel rocket engine Kalam-5 (named after A. P. J. Abdul Kalam), the first of five planned carbon-composite Kalam rocket motors which are expected to power its launch vehicles.[17][18][19] The test happened in Nagpur at a private test facility owned by Solar Industries, which is also an investor in Skyroot. In the name "Kalam-5", the 5 refers to the peak sea level thrust of 5.3kN.[20] The final engine in the series will be four times the size of Kalam-5.

Cryogenic rocket engine[]

Main article: Cryogenic rocket engine

Dhawan-1[]

On 25 September 2020, Skyroot Aerospace unveiled the Dhawan-1 (named after Satish Dhawan) upper stage cryogenic engine that will power heavier-lift systems such as Vikram-II.[21][22] This is the first cryogenic engine in India that will use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel; this fuel has the advantages of being clean, re-usable and suited for long duration space missions. Dhawan-1 is 3D printed and designed with a regenerative cooling configuration.[23]

Skyroot successfully test fired India's first privately developed small cryogenic engine called Dhawan-1 running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX) on 25 November 2021. It was a technology demonstration experiment for the upper stage of Vikram-2 rocket that is under active development. Solar Industries provided the test facility. The engine made by 3D printing process and using super alloys.[24]

Launch vehicles[]

Skyroot Aerospace has been working on its Vikram series of expendable small lift launchers. Rockets are designed for very quick assemblies.[25] They also have plans to develop a fully reusable vehicle.

Planned rockets in the series
Launch Vehicle Payload capacity First flight Total launches
SSPO
(500 km) 		LEO
(500 km; 45°)
Vikram I 225 kg (496 lb) 315 kg (694 lb) End 2022
(Planned) 		0
Vikram II 410 kg (900 lb) 520 kg (1,150 lb) TBD 0
Vikram III 580 kg (1,280 lb) 720 kg (1,590 lb) TBD 0

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sukumar, C. R. "Skyroot India's first private company to test upper-stage rocket engine". The Economic Times. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  2. ^ Narasimhan, T. E. (12 August 2020). "Skyroot Aerospace first private company to test upper stage rocket engine". Business Standard India. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  3. ^ CR Kumar; Raghu Krishnan (17 April 2019). "With a simpler rocket, Skyroot is eyeing the space". The Economic Times. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. ^ Etherington, Darrell (12 August 2020). "India's first private space launch startup Skyroot succeeds with upper-stage engine fire test". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  5. ^ "India's first private player to successfully test a homegrown rocket engine is on track for its first full rocket launch by 2021". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. ^ "3 Hyderabad firms bag top startup awards | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  7. ^ "Non-Disclosure Agreement signed with M/S Skyroot - ISRO".
  8. ^ @SkyrootA (8 February 2021). "We are delighted to announce our..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D22AQEPxL0k9dga2A/feedshare-shrink_800/0/1614597996577?e=1635379200&v=beta&t=IdvRiyFVoozmruG0_ykZFxNDOrLcIAAOi5CqZYw3C4k
  10. ^ "Skyroot Aerospace raises $11 million in Series-A round led by Greenko founders - Times of India". The Times of India.
  11. ^ "In a first, space dept signs pact with Hyderabad startup to provide access to Isro facilities | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  12. ^ "LinkedIn Top Startups 2021: The 25 Indian companies on the rise".
  13. ^ "Hyderabad startup Skyroot Aerospace test-fires upper stage rocket engine 'Raman'". The Times of India. PTI. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. ^ Pandey, Ashish (14 August 2020). "Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace's Raman: India's first homegrown rocket engine". India Today. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  15. ^ Goyal, Shikha (17 August 2020). "First Indian start-up firm Skyroot Aerospace to test fire rocket engine 'Raman': All you need to know". Jagran Josh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Skyroot Aerospace becomes first Indian startup to test upper-stage rocket engine". The Asian Age. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Skyroot tests solid propulsion rocket engine, aims at a rocket by 2021 end". The Economic Times. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  18. ^ Etherington, Darrell (29 December 2020). "Skyroot successfully test fires India's first privately-made solid rocket stage". TechCrunch.
  19. ^ Skyroot Aerospace: Kalam-5 Solid Rocket Motor Test Fire, retrieved 25 November 2021
  20. ^ "Skyroot Aerospace becomes first Indian company to test-fire solid-fueled rocket engine". 28 December 2020.
  21. ^ Burgess2020-09-25T09:58:00+01:00, Molly. "Skyroot Aerospace unveils cryogenic rocket engine". gasworld. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  22. ^ Siddarth MP (25 September 2020). "Startup Skyroot Aerospace unveils India's first privately developed Cryogenic Rocket engine". Zee News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Space startup unveils India's first privately developed Cryogenic Rocket engine". WION. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  24. ^ Kumar, Chethan (25 November 2021). "Cryogenic: India's first private cryogenic engine test fired by Skyroot". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Launch Vehicle". Skyroot Aerospace. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

External links[]

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