India, July 18 -- India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Saturday. It is a major milestone for the country's private space sector and its commercial launch ambitions.

Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, the mission, named Mission Aagaman, is the first attempt by an Indian private company to place satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Skyroot founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both former ISRO scientists, watched the launch from the Mission Control Centre along with ISRO Chairman V Narayanan. Former ISRO chiefs, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, and Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh were also present.

Modi dialled the ...