Chennai, July 17 -- India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, is set to make its maiden flight on Saturday, marking a major milestone in the country's space programme and the beginning of private orbital launches in India.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, the first test flight, named Mission Aagaman (Arrival), is scheduled for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 11.30 am on July 18.
Among the mission's symbolic payloads is a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words "Vande Mataram", Skyroot Aerospace announced in a post on X on Friday.
"Among the payloads on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 is something truly special-a handwritten postca...