India’s space agency
India’s Skyroot Aerospace has successfully placed payloads into orbit with Vikram-1, marking the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit. The mission validates propulsion, avionics, and control systems and signals a push to grow India’s private space sector. The launch signals a new era for small-satellite launches and cab-service style access to space.
Isar Aerospace has reached orbit on its second Spectrum flight and has deployed small satellites, making it the first purely commercial European launcher to do so. The success has prompted company plans to scale production and expand launch capacity as European governments and private firms ramp up investment in sovereign space capability.
Elon Musk has accused powerful Indian business interests of blocking Starlink’s launch and has directly challenged Mukesh Ambani, after Starlink secured licences but still awaits final security clearances. India’s Ministry of Communications has said three licensed satellite operators are at the same regulatory stage and are undergoing security assessments.