According to techcrunch, skyroot, India's first private company to design, build and test solid rocket propulsion stages, has reached another key milestone in the development of its vikram-i carrier rocket: the full-time ignition test of the third stage of the rocket**
The third stage, known as kalam-100, commemorates Indian rocket scientist and former president Abdul Kalam. It is only part of the company's first rocket. Vikram-i consists of three solid fuel stages plus a liquid fuel start-up stage designed to serve the small satellite launch market. Its design is to transport a 480KG payload to low angle orbit. The company said on its website that its design is to assemble and launch from any launch site within 24 hours.
Skykram root is currently developing one of three rockets; The other two, Vikram II and Vikram III, will be able to carry heavier payloads and enter orbit multiple times.
Skyroot CEO Pawan Kumar chandana told techcrunch in an email that the test launch of the third stage of the rocket was conducted at a private test site in Nagpur, India. The test site belongs to skyroot investors and solar industries India, a manufacturer of industrial explosives, ammunition and propulsion systems.
Chandana said the next step will be the first and second stage test firing. The company's existing funds, including $11 million in round a financing and $4.5 million in bridge financing, will cover most of the testing costs. He said that skyroot is conducting a round B financing to enable the company to achieve "multiple orbital launches".
The company will complete all of these technical demonstrations by the end of next year, and will complete the company's first commercial launch before the end of next year. The launch will take off from the spaceport on Sri harikota Island, India, and will make skyroot the first private Indian company to build and launch private rockets.