New Delhi, July 17 -- India's first private orbital rocket is set to launch at 11:30 AM on Saturday (18 July) from the historic First Launch Pad at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

It will be the first test flight of the Vikram-1 rocket, built by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace. It will be launched as part of Mission Aagaman on Saturday.

Among the payloads on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 is "something truly special" - a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the words "Vande Mataram," Skyroot Aerospace said.

"It travels to space alongside handwritten messages from our team, investors, policymakers, and well-wishers across the globe, making Mission Aagaman a celebration carried by many hands and shared by million...