CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: India’s private space company Skyroot Aerospace has signed an agreement for two dedicated rocket launches with US space technology startup Reflect Orbital. The development, reported on October 15, 2026, is being seen as a significant commercial achievement for India’s private space industry. The agreement follows the successful first orbital flight of Skyroot’s Vikram-1 rocket.
Skyroot will carry the US company’s satellites into space. US-based Reflect Orbital has booked two separate launches on Skyroot’s Vikram series rockets to place its upcoming spacecraft in orbit. The two companies have not publicly disclosed the financial terms of the agreement or the confirmed launch dates.
Reflect Orbital is developing technology that would use special mirrors mounted on satellites in orbit to reflect sunlight towards selected areas on Earth. Through this technology, the company aims to advance possibilities linked to night-time search and rescue operations, lighting in remote areas and solar energy generation. According to company co-founder and chief executive officer Ben Nowack, amid a global shortage of launch capacity, the partnership with Skyroot will help ensure access to space.
Confidence has grown after the success of Vikram-1. Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 by former ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. In November 2022, the company made history with Vikram-S, India’s first private rocket launch. Later, on July 18, 2026, Vikram-1 successfully completed its first orbital flight. The mission also carried payloads from Germany’s DcubeD into space. This success opened new opportunities for Skyroot’s commercial launch services.
Skyroot co-founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana said ambitious international missions such as Reflect Orbital are aligned with the capabilities of the Vikram rocket family. He said the partnership would give customers certainty in launch schedules and mission-related flexibility.
The agreement is an important achievement for India’s private space industry and reflects growing international participation in the sector. Private companies are no longer limited to developing rockets; they are also moving towards providing commercial launch services for global customers. If both launches are completed successfully, Skyroot will have an opportunity to strengthen its position in the international market and contribute to the growth of India’s private space economy.
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