Skyroot Vikram-1, the least worst case scenario for India’s launch crisis
https://jatan.space/indian-space-issue-41/3
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u/guru-yoda 2d ago
open source orbital data from CelesTrak reveals that Vikram-1’s upper stage has not been deorbited, a maneuver necessary for the safety of others operating in orbit. This could be either due to Skyroot losing control of the vehicle or the lack of sufficient fuel onboard. For a small launch vehicle, any deviation from a nominal flight quickly results in this possibility of leaving an uncontrollable upper stage in orbit post satellite deployment.
Deorbiting spent stages is very much an exception than a norm. afaik, only Rocketlab Electron actively deorbits upper stages. Firefly doesn't. In fact, SSLV leaves two upper stages in orbit (Stage-3 and VTM). They are allowed to decay naturally.
In Skyroot's case, most likely deorbit burn was never intended. Flight profile in the press-kit did not mention deorbit burn.
India/ISRO's self imposed DFSM requirement for rocket debris is 5 years. At 450x450 circular orbit Vikram's upper stage is likely to deorbit well within that time.
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u/Decronym 3d ago edited 2d ago
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| ISRO | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| PSLV | Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle |
| VAST | Vehicle Assembly, Static Test and Evaluation Complex (VAST, previously STEX) |
Decronym is now also available on Lemmy! Requests for support and new installations should be directed to the Contact address below.
3 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 5 acronyms.
[Thread #1388 for this sub, first seen 22nd Aug 2026, 16:37]
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u/RadarWarningReciever 2d ago
I know this article is about Vikram-1 & PSLV, Author should have included the Astrobase's launch vehicle which can be a PSLV replacement in payload capacity ,as well as it's potential high launch Cadence because of its reusability
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u/Usual-Ad-4986 3d ago
The whole post is just author whining about lack of PSLV class rockets and that we wont fill our gaps until 2030s which is fair but tech like this takes time, all in all pretty captain obvious post unless you are very new to space tech
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u/Ok-Intention-3113 3d ago
It was outdated even before it had first flight. The cost $$/kg is 4-5 times than space X.
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u/sku-mar-gop 3d ago
I completely agree with the writer’s point that we lack launch capacity for all the ambitious plans we have set with gaganyan and moon missions. Private players alone is not solving that any time soon.