On July 18, 2026, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1, the country’s first privately built orbital rocket, from Sriharikota. This wasn’t just another launch; it made India only the third nation in the world, after the U.S. and China, to achieve private orbital capability. Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the rocket’s seven-story frame soared into Low Earth Orbit, carrying more than satellites; it carried a new era of commercial space ambition. Skyroot’s vision? A ‘cab service to space’; letting customers book launches on demand. Prime Minister Modi called it a ‘historic new frontier,’ applauding the grit of India’s young entrepreneurs. Behind the smoke and thunder was a quiet revolution: space is no longer just ISRO’s domain. The private sector is now steering the future, and the sky’s no longer the limit; it’s the starting line.