Hyderabad: Skyroot Aerospace, a leading Indian private space company, has successfully completed the static fire test of the Kalam-100, the third stage of its Vikram-1 launch vehicle.

The Vikram is a family of small-lift launch vehicles being developed by the Indian firm. The test, which saw the Kalam-100 engine roaring to life for an impressive 102 seconds, marks a significant step towards the maiden launch of Vikram-1 later this year.

The Kalam-100 engine is equipped with an advanced flex nozzle that provides precise thrust vector control, essential for ensuring accurate trajectory adjustments during flight. This successful test builds on the earlier fixed-nozzle static fire tests and further validates the rocket's capabilities. The engine generates a peak vacuum thrust of 100 kN at an area ratio of 60 in flight.

The test involved the use of Skyroot's in-house developed Automatic Launch Computer and a suite of flight avionics, including the Mission Computer.

The system is designed to emulate real-flight conditions and conduct rigorous testing. Over 150 data channels captured by high-precision sensors provided critical information during the test.

The Vikram-1 rocket, designed to deploy a 480 kg payload to a 500 km low-inclination orbit, is scheduled for its maiden flight later this year.