Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1, built by a 35-year-old ex-ISRO engineer who quit his job to start a startup, will lift off from Sriharikota at 11:30 am IST. This isn’t just another rocket. It’s the result of India throwing open its space sector to private players in 2020; and since then, over 400 startups have entered, pulling in $500M+ in funding. The government wants the space economy to hit $100B by 2040. What makes this wild? Private firms like Pixxel, Bellatrix, and Agnikul are now building satellites, propulsion systems, and even 3D-printed rocket engines; while ISRO focuses on deep-space missions like Mars, Moon samples, and a Venus orbiter. And yes, space and defence are now deeply intertwined; with companies supplying tech to both. The real story? India’s space dream isn’t just about flags and footprints anymore. It’s about startups, Silicon Valley-style innovation, and a quiet revolution happening in Telangana’s ‘Infinity Factory’. This launch? Just the beginning.