July 18th, 2026
IIT Kharagpur Alumnus Pawan Kumar Chandana Takes India to Orbit
IITKGP Foundation
This week marked a defining moment in India's space journey. Pawan Kumar Chandana, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur (2012/B.Tech+M.Tech/ME) and co-founder & CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, led the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The achievement has sparked headlines across Indian media, with many hailing Chandana as "India's Elon Musk."
For India, this is far more than the launch of another rocket. It signals the coming of age of the nation's private space industry. Until recently, orbital launches were exclusively the domain of national space agencies. Skyroot has demonstrated that Indian entrepreneurs can now design, build, and launch world-class space technology capable of serving customers around the globe.
Chandana's journey is itself an inspiring story. After graduating from IIT Kharagpur, he joined ISRO, where he worked on launch vehicle technologies before leaving the security of a government career to pursue an entrepreneurial dream. Together with his co-founder, Naga Bharath Daka, he established Skyroot Aerospace with a bold vision—to make access to space more affordable, responsive, and commercially viable. That vision has now become reality.
The success of Vikram-1 is a testament to the power of innovation, perseverance, and calculated risk-taking. It also reflects the entrepreneurial spirit that IITKGP has nurtured for generations—producing graduates who are not only exceptional engineers but also pioneers who redefine industries.
The IITKGP community takes immense pride in celebrating Pawan Kumar Chandana's extraordinary achievement. His success reminds us that the next generation of global technology leaders can emerge from our classrooms, laboratories, and campus corridors. As India reaches higher into space, an IITKGP alumnus is helping lead the way.
Congratulations to Pawan Kumar Chandana and the entire Skyroot Aerospace team on this historic milestone. The future of India's space economy has never looked brighter.