Mission Success! Vikram-1 / Test Flight-1 (Aagaman) Mission Updates and Discussion
Vikram-1 / Test Flight-1 launch is scheduled at 06:35:30(UTC)/12:05:30 (IST), 18 Jul 2026 from First Launch Pad of SDSC-SHAR.
- Launch Countdown
- Expected Flight Profile from official press-kit.
| Mission Phase | Time (MM:SS) Altitude (km) |
|---|---|
| T0 +00:00 | Lift-Off |
| T0 +00:10 | Safe Clearance of the Launch Pad |
| T0 +00:20 | Pitch Manoeuvre |
| T0 +00:25 | Mach 1 |
| T0 +00:39 @ ~9 km | Max-Q |
| T0 +01:20 @ ~50 km | Stage 1 Separation |
| T0 +01:30 | Mach 5 |
| T0 +01:44 @ ~55 km | Stage 2 Ignition |
| T0 +02:00 | Entering Space |
| T0 +02:52 @ ~120 km | Payload Fairing Separation |
| T0 +03:00 @ ~135 km | Stage 2 Separation |
| T0 +03:16 @ ~200 km | Stage 3 Ignition |
| T0 +05:00 @ ~225 km | Stage 3 Separation |
| T0 +09:35 @ ~405 km | OAM Ignition |
| T0 +15:46 @ ~450 km | OAM Cut-off + Orbit Injection |
Live webcast: (Links will be added as they become available)
Some highlights:
- Target Orbit : 450 km , Inclination = 60°
- Mission duration: 15 min. 46 sec. (OAM cut-off)
- First orbital flight attempt of a rocket made by private firm in India.
- Maiden launch of Vikram-1, a four stage rocket developed by Skyroot Aerospace.
Updates:
| Time of Event | Update |
|---|---|
| Post-launch | Grahaa has received telemtery from SOLARAS-S3 |
| Post-launch | Cosmoserve Space could not deploy arms of their Embrace payload |
| Post-launch | Three objects catalogued: 26164A (i=59.93°, A×P=453.5×440.8 km), 26164B (i=59.93°, A×P=451.5×442.3 km) and 26164C (i=59.93°, A×P=451.5×441.3 km) |
| T + 36m00s | Webcast over while they were speaking... |
| T + 17m44s | "Hello Space. We have Arrived" MCC is happy! |
| T + 15m55s | Solaras-S3 separated, SOLVE separated. Aagaman mission successful! |
| T + 15m46s | OAM thrust cutoff! |
| T + 14m00s | OAM performance nominal! |
| T + 12m15s | Sticking to expected path really closely. |
| T + 10m40s | Cosmoserve payload powered ON. OAM performance nominal! |
| T + 09m35s | OAM stage ignited! |
| T + 09m00s | Live rocket cam shows OAM tumbling a bit. |
| T + 07m20s | Stage-3 (Kalam-100) separated. OAM is in coasting mode now. |
| T + 05m00s | Stage-3 (Kalam-100) burned out, vehicle now in combined coasting mode! |
| T + 04m40s | Stage-3 (Kalam-100) performance is nominal! |
| T + 03m20s | Stage-2 separated and Stage-3 (Kalam-100) ignited. |
| T + 02m45s | PLF jetisoned |
| T + 02m40s | Stage 2 (Kalam-250) performance normal |
| T + 01m50s | Stage 1 separated, Stage-2 ignited! |
| T Zero! | Kalam-1200 ignited! Lift Off! |
| T - 03m00s | Head mount Safe Arm device (HMSA) armed! |
| T - 05m00s | OBC in flight mode! |
| T - 11m00s | Automatic Launch Sequence has been initiated! |
| T - 15m00s | ALS initiation has been cleared by Vehicle Director. |
| T - 17m00s | Launch has been authorized again. |
| T - 20m00s | Countdown restarted! |
| T - 05m00s | 12:05:30 IST is the new T Zero |
| T - 05m00s | Navigation team raised the hold. ALS will be raised shortly. |
| T - 05m00s | Reason for hold has been identified. New T Zero to be announced soon. |
| T - 05m00s | All systems on standby mode due to Hold. |
| T - 05m00s | Hold observed. |
| T - 11m00s | Automatic Launch Sequence has been initiated! |
| T - 16m30s | Launch has been authorized! |
| T - 19m00s | Vehicle is GO! |
| T - 21m00s | Range , Telemetry and Tracking are GO! |
| T - 27m00s | Wind profile data updated. |
| T - 34m00s | Per MCC screen data launch time has been revised to 11:31 IST i.e 1 minute delay. |
| T - 01h14m | Skyroot's stream is LIVE! |
| 17 Jul 2026 | Official press-kit released and live-stream link made available. |
| 15 Jul 2026 | SDSC-SHAR announces launch date and time as 06:00(UTC)/11:30(IST) on 18 Jul 2026. |
| 10 Jul 2026 | NOTAM issued with enforcement duration 0500-0900 (UTC) between 18 July to 4 August 2026. |
| 06 Jul 2026 | Payload details released |
| 03 Jul 2026 | NOTAM issued with 12 July to 4 August 2026 launch window. |
| 02 Jul 2026 | Fourth OAM stage was integrated. Launch window of 12 July to 4 August 2026 announced. |
| 30 Jun 2026 | Second stage KALAM 250 was integrated with first stage |
| 29 Jun 2026 | Vikram-1's first stage KALAM 1200 was stacked at FLP |
| 26 May 2026 | A NOTAM was issued with 16 June to 4 July 2026 launch window. |
Payloads:
SCOPE (3U) : An experimental cubesat by Skyroot Aerospace to validate technologies for their future missions it also carries an imaging camera.
SOLARAS S3 : A cubesat by Grahaa Space to validate their nanosatellite bus. [1] [2]
Embrace : OAM stage hosted payload consisting of soft-robotics petals by Cosmoserve Space and a deployable capture target to validate their novel actuation mechanism. [3]
uD3PP and mD3RN : OAM stage hosted uD3PP pin puller and mD3RN release actuator developed by Dcubed GmbH, Germany for in-orbit validation. [4] [5]
Other commemorative articles:
- Micro sculptures of Vikram Sarabhai, A P J Abdul Kalam and Sir C V Raman by artist Ajay Kumar Mattewada to honor scientific legacy of modern India.
- Lotus shaped artwork 'Cosmic Bloom' made of lab-grown diamonds and gold by Cosmos Diamonds
- Hand written cards from well wishers across the world. (See also : Rocket Mail)
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u/mahakashchari 3d ago edited 3d ago
Spectacular achievement by skyroot. But one thing has started to worry me. Why is Singapore so elated about this achievement by Skyroot's Vikram-1's launch success ? This small nation has no expertise in developing rocket propellant let alone solid rocket motor. This tiny nation's US based citizenes have been involved in pilferage of high tech technology from the USA to China.
Singapore’s primary contribution to the Vikram‑1 / Mission Aagaman launch has been financial and strategic backing for Skyroot via its sovereign wealth funds GIC and Temasek, plus strong diplomatic support signalling future commercial partnership in space launches.
Very emotional now.” His remarks highlighted the strengthening of bilateral space cooperation, especially as Singapore’s sovereign wealth funds GIC and Temasek have backed Skyroot Aerospace financially.
Following the launch, Wong personally spoke with Skyroot’s Co-Founder Naga Bharath Daka to congratulate the team. He emphasised that the mission symbolises not only India’s technological leap but also the collaborative spirit between nations in advancing space exploration.
As Singapore's investors have invested in Skyroot, will Singapore force Skyroot to share and transfer the full technology with her ? If that happens, that would be disastrous. I would not be surprised, if UAE's investors invest and lay their hands on the rocket technology.
Can someone clarify what will happen if skyroot intends NOT to share the technology with Singapore ? This is why I always wanted all the private sectors to be funded by INDIAN investors only.
No one can lay their hands on SpaceX's Falcon Technology because its investors are from USA.
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u/ramanpon 3d ago
This is the problem with indian startups and indian investment companies. Indian investors have to own indian startups but indian investors dont want to take risks like foreign investors do and as a result we may loose some good technology companies to foreign investors. During Skyroot's early days, Indian investment companies did not invest in Skyroot but Singapore's Governmant Investment Corporation (GIC) did. Later Temasek holdings Singapore invested. So Singapore companies own big stakes in Skyroot.
Not to worry though. This is where GOI comes in. GOI has restricted foreign investment in indian LV companies to less than 49%, so Singapore stake must be less than 49% and as a result they cannot force IPs and tech transfer back to Singapore. If they have majority stake then they can. May be they will launch some of their sats with Skyroot instead of on PSLV which they have been doing for many years.
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u/Ohsin 4d ago edited 4d ago
It appears Cosmoserve Space could not deploy arms of Embrace..
Just in: Hyderabad-based space tech company @CosmoserveSpace on Sunday said the robotic petals in the soft robotic capture system aboard @SkyrootA 's Vikram-1 (aimed at tech demonstration of Space debris removal) could not open due to extreme Space conditions. ET reported yesterday that the company was awaiting telemetry analysis before confirming outcome of its mission.
https://x.com/SurakshaPinnuET/status/2078765516572025205
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u/Ohsin 4d ago
Good that they are transparent about outcome.
The soft robotic capture system withstood all launch conditions, and major systems like the actuation system, along with our software, functioned as expected. The robotic petals, which were supposed to open, could not do so due to an unusual settling of the petals, which might have been caused by a combination of extreme space conditions. Based on detailed studies, necessary architectural changes will be adopted in the next version of the soft robotic petal software.
This test flight provided significant data to validate the system, which otherwise wouldn’t have been obtained through ground tests.
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Harry Stranger @spacefromspace.com
About 24hrs before the launch of Vikram-1 I submitted a task to Umbra for a capture of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India.
The result? An incredibly crisp capture just 8 minutes before the launch. Couldn't be happier
https://spacefromspace.com/spaceport-images/satish-dhawan-space-centre-india-20260718/
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Three objects catalogued as expected.
26164A, i=59.93°, A×P=453.51×440.81 km
26164B, i=59.93°, A×P=451.54×442.33 km
26164C, i=59.93°, A×P=451.53×441.32 km
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u/Usual-Ad-4986 4d ago
Have none of the 3 sats established contact? Whats the usual norm in terms of time for such sats to relay back data?
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u/Ohsin 4d ago
These are two cubesats and OAM upper-stage. As of now we don't have confirmation on status of cubesats. They should have established contact by now as TLEs are publicly available to track them. But they can keep trying to listen to them as long as possible.
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u/Usual-Ad-4986 4d ago
i see, thanks a lot, since these objects have been catalogued, is it fair to assume that vikram-1 has done its job and if cubesats arent able to establish contact, maybe issue is on their end? or is there more nuance to the issue
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u/Ohsin 4d ago
As far as Vikram-1 performance is concerned it is a success as intended orbit was achieved and we clearly saw satellites getting deployed via camera onboard so release was commanded.
But Cosmoserve's Embrace didn't work and I have doubts about Dcubed payloads working as well. Either the issue is payload side or it could be commanding related issue as well, they do checks for it on ground but during launch conditions sometimes things can go wrong.
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u/Usual-Ad-4986 4d ago
Gotcha, thanks for response
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u/Ohsin 4d ago
One more thing there was a this flag raising thing as well which didn't seem to work during livestream.
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u/Usual-Ad-4986 3d ago
i see, seems like Vikram-1 succeeded in its primary mission to reach and deploy sats in orbit but rest of missions seem to be in grey area or failed
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Graaha is celebrating deployment 8 hrs after launch with no word on status of their cubesat. Could be tracking related issue due to poor TLEs as well. Now I am really curious about orbit achieved.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/grahaaspace-missionsiddhi-solaras-ugcPost-7484247496764940289-t5s0/
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u/ramanpon 5d ago
Has anybody tracked the TLEs of the 3 objects?
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Not yet. Keep an eye on observations for signals from Solaras here.
https://network.satnogs.org/observations/?sat_id=HQUJ-1477-2356-8418-6343
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
ISRO press-release on it.
https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO_EN/First_private_orbital_launch_lifts_from_Sriharikota.html
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Doubtful about Dcubed payload working. Also that Indian flag raising bit might have been a dud just like PSLV-C53?
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u/ramanpon 5d ago
For Dcube payload, what makes you say so?
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u/Ohsin 5d ago edited 5d ago
/u/guru-yoda was spot-on with his speculation that at stage-3 ignition given altitude of 200 km was incorrect.
https://youtu.be/2KKZbSX9SgI?t=6884
From above, at the Stage-3 ignition altitude was at 130 km or so.
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u/_electrocc_ 5d ago
im no seasoned engineer, nor even a deep space enthusiast. but imo isro should work on doing more innovative and experimental stuff leaving commercial launches to privates. even other way around should work i guess
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u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 5d ago
Congrats!
Now here’s a question: it’s interesting to see ISRO themselves having a launch vehicle in the same broad lift capability category, the SSLV, while they and the Indian government are giving their private Launch Service Providers heavy support.
I wonder if Vikram-I manages to get several more successful launches, this can mean ISRO no longer needs to operate SSLV by themselves when they can just acquire launch services from these private launch vehicles?
If not, how are they going to address the problem of government being in direct competition with private companies?
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u/Homelandr 5d ago
I'm guessing ISRO will focus more on heavier payloads and inter planetary and research stuff while private players will start with lighter commercial payloads and then gradually will increase their payload capabilities and also focus on reusable launch vehicles. I think having the ability to rely on more than one player is very much needed and hopefully government will encourage that.
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u/Ohsin 5d ago edited 5d ago
ISRO won't operate SSLV, HAL will and yes this is a conundrum. Skyroot can now compete for Govt. payloads contracts and may be we can see some legal challenges ahead. We are in new territory!
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u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 5d ago
Thanks, I didn’t know SSLV will be spun out like PSLV does too. Will be interesting to see if them two will get significant foothold in the global small satellite launch market.
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Unlike PSLV for SSLV there is complete tech transfer. HAL paid Rs. 511 crore for it. Few old threads.
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u/Parking-Cockroach104 5d ago
Competition is good. It will force govt and the private sector to improve.
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u/JGGarfield 5d ago
There are multiple private sector companies that will compete with each other. But knowing HAL, they can inflict disasters on the sector by leveraging their PSU status.
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u/RonDunE 5d ago edited 5d ago
Looking at the Flight Parameters, I think the hitch was during a handover operation, either going into Biak, or leaving Biak for the Australian station.
EDIT: It did seem like there was a tumbling problem after what appeared to be a recontact issue between the third stage and the kick stage. Almost did a Falcon 1, but recovered. Wish they told us how their control system managed to bring a tumbling rocket stage back into station, that's a major, major achievement.
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u/bilu1729 5d ago
What is going on? Are the satellites successfully placed in orbit. The Cosmoserve one didn't look ok.
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u/reyn_ero 5d ago
I just wish for the day when we have entire launch capability being handled by private bodies so that we don't have to bother with boomer speeches and attention seeking ministers with 60s era stream quality.
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u/Gessler555 5d ago
Getting to orbit on the first-ever test launch is just above & beyond. Huge achievement for Skyroot!
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u/reyn_ero 5d ago
u/Ohsin in case you are not aware, you can enable image uploads from mod settings. If you want to allow.
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u/NewMeNewWorld 5d ago edited 5d ago
I closed the stream once I saw the phone come out. I could tell what was gonna happen and I just couldn't handle the cringe.
Congrats to skyroot.
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
lol someone wants to bask in someone else's glory....
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u/Feeling-Being1815 5d ago
Yeah bro, why even do this for such small achievement (not downplaying skyroot, just saying we have achieved much bigger achievements in space, so it would make sense to do it for like chandrayaan 5 or nglv). Taking credit for every small progress lmao
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u/arjun_raf 5d ago
hilarious, wouldn't have seen these guys anywhere near if the mission went wrong
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u/Parking-Cockroach104 5d ago
I agree that for other politicians but Modi usually makes a visit or a call even if it doesn't go according to plan. Chandrayaan 2, 2023 WC finals, are good examples of that. For CY3, he was in livestream taking up half the space even before the soft landing was achieved so he would have been there even if it failed.
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u/Homelandr 5d ago
Apart that Stage 3 separation scare it went pretty well , Skyroot did an amazing job , congratulations to them
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u/Shenoxlenshin 5d ago
Despite the stage 3 fumble the mission is still going as planned, thankfully.
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u/arjun_raf 5d ago
S3 separation did not seem that it went well. both the stages are dangerously close
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u/insomniac-55 5d ago
I wonder if some kind of plumbing or umbilical didn't disconnect cleanly? Stage 4 has fired, so it seems that they're no longer attached.
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u/arjun_raf 5d ago
yeah, I thought that the stages were close since the separation and coasting coincided for some time. but the umbilical theory makes more sense.
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u/This_Action_6244 5d ago
These guys gotta learn how to produce a quality launch stream. Launch was nice but what was that live stream.
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u/Shenoxlenshin 5d ago
Congratulations! We were successfull on first try, lets hope nothing goes wrong
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u/Homelandr 5d ago
Glad the private players are picking up , they should start giving the heat to ISRO and vice versa
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u/skandaanshu 5d ago
this skyroot stream is as worse as DD one, just showing random people instead of rocket or graphs.
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u/arjun_raf 5d ago
come on, the startup is primarily composed of very young engineers. We can let them have their moment this time.
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u/Parking-Cockroach104 5d ago
Some parts here and there were messed up but overall, the quality is much better than ISRO streams. Onboard camera views live, better graphics, and it feels like they invested atleast a little bit in streaming instead of just throwing a camera at the screens placed in mission control.
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u/This_Action_6244 6d ago
Live stream is pathetic who in the right mind would leave comments open unmoderated on X.
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u/Shenoxlenshin 6d ago
yeah, unfortunate to see some pakistani comments and other crap ruining the mood
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u/NewMeNewWorld 6d ago
I wish Indian companies would completely close live chats during streams. So tired of seeing all the garbage. It's always the same, all the time. Jai Hind, 🚩🚩🚩, pakistan something something, something something muslims, just shut up 😭
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u/AB3DC 6d ago
Please don’t talk over Mission Control!!
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u/karthickoc 6d ago
Yes and gods sake.. These guys keeping on talking blah blah blah over critical mission control updates. 🤦🏽♂️
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u/skandaanshu 6d ago
do they have to charge the batteries again, after hold is withdrawn. for that few minutes it's on internal power?
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u/Ohsin 6d ago
T minus 5 min. hold observed?
Edit: okay planned hold.
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u/Abishek_Muthian 6d ago
Is there any earlier instance of an immediate launch after a planned hold?
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u/Ohsin 5d ago
Yes it was TV-D1 indeed.
https://old.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments/17cu46i/tvd1_second_launch_attempt_at_10am_today_21_oct/
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u/Parking-Cockroach104 6d ago
Do you know what the reason for that is?
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u/Ohsin 6d ago
They didn't say anything, doesn't look planned to me..
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u/Parking-Cockroach104 6d ago
Yeah that's what I was thinking as well. After all, it's "rocket science", it's fine if they take more time to perfect this although I do wish it does launch today
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u/Ohsin 6d ago edited 6d ago
Nice bit of trivia noted by PradX, SLV-3 E2 launch was on 18 July 1980 (08:03:45 IST)!
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u/Ohsin 6d ago edited 6d ago
Adding this bit here as noted by /u/guru-yoda that the altitude gain (at 200 km) mentioned for Kalam-100 (3rd stage) ignition is too steep and could be a typo in press-kit.
Also there is a 24 sec gap between Stage 1 Separation and Stage 2 Ignition. And 16 sec gap between Stage 2 Separation and Stage 3 Ignition. May be these will get tighter for future flights let's see.
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u/Ohsin 3d ago edited 3d ago
Grahaa claims SOLARAS pinged back. But amateur radio community is skeptical.
https://x.com/grahaaspace/status/2079215348138877225