Who Are Pawan Chandana, Bharath Daka? Minds Behind Vikram-1

Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, the founders of Skyroot Aerospace, have scripted history with the successful launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket. Their journey from ISRO scientists to startup leaders marks a significant milestone in India’s rapidly growing private space sector.

Key Highlights

• Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka founded Skyroot Aerospace in 2018.
• Vikram-1 is India’s first privately developed orbital rocket.
• Both founders previously worked at ISRO on launch vehicle technologies.
• The mission strengthens India’s private space ecosystem and commercial launch ambitions.

India’s private space industry achieved a defining milestone as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, making it India’s first privately developed orbital rocket. The achievement reflects the vision and determination of founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, who transformed years of experience at ISRO into one of the country’s most successful space startups.

Founded in 2018, Skyroot Aerospace was created with the goal of making satellite launches more affordable, reliable and accessible. In just a few years, the Hyderabad-based company has expanded rapidly, employing more than 1,000 engineers and specialists working across propulsion, avionics, launch systems and advanced aerospace technologies.

As Chief Executive Officer, Pawan Kumar Chandana began his career at ISRO after graduating from IIT Kharagpur. During his tenure at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, he contributed to the development of the GSLV Mk III launch vehicle and earned recognition for his innovative work in rocket engineering.

Naga Bharath Daka, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, is an IIT Madras alumnus with expertise in microelectronics, avionics, FPGA systems and launch vehicle electronics. Before co-founding Skyroot, he worked as a Flight Computer Engineer at ISRO, developing avionics systems that now form the backbone of Skyroot’s launch technologies.

The successful Vikram-1 mission is more than a technological achievement. It demonstrates how India’s private sector is becoming a key contributor to the country’s space programme, creating new opportunities for commercial satellite launches and strengthening India’s position in the global space economy.

The success of Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka with Vikram-1 highlights India’s growing leadership in private space innovation and opens a new chapter for the nation’s commercial space ambitions.

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