The successful launch of Vikram-1 has not only marked a milestone for India’s private space industry but has also brought the inspiring journey of Skyroot Aerospace co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana into the spotlight. Once a student who scored just 51 marks in mathematics, Chandana has now become one of the key figures driving India’s commercial space ambitions.
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Chandana grew up with a keen interest in machines and technology. While mathematics was initially a difficult subject, his curiosity and determination gradually helped him develop a strong foundation in science and engineering. His perseverance eventually paid off when he cracked the IIT entrance examination on his first attempt and joined IIT Kharagpur.
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After completing his engineering degree, Chandana was recruited directly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). During his six-year stint at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, he worked on the GSLV Mk III, India’s heaviest launch vehicle, earning recognition for his contributions to rocket development.
In 2018, Chandana and fellow former ISRO engineer Naga Bharath Daka co-founded Skyroot Aerospace in Hyderabad with the vision of building private launch vehicles in India. Despite facing funding challenges and the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the startup continued to grow with support from investors, including Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal and renewable energy firm Greenko.
Skyroot achieved several milestones, including India’s first privately developed suborbital rocket, Vikram-S, in 2022. The company later established the country’s largest private rocket manufacturing facility and secured major investments to expand its operations.
On Saturday, Skyroot reached another historic milestone with the successful launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket. Chandana’s journey from an average student to a leading entrepreneur serves as an inspiring example of how perseverance, innovation and passion can overcome academic setbacks and shape the future of a nation.
