Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka’s startup, Skyroot Aerospace, just closed a deal that changes the math for Indian private spaceflight. The company signed a contract with Reflect Orbital, a US-based firm, for two dedicated launches using the Vikram rocket family. This isn’t just a line item in a ledger; it’s the first significant commercial order from an American private entity for an Indian private launch provider.
The timing is no accident. It landed shortly after Vikram-1 hit orbit in July 2026, becoming the first privately built Indian rocket to achieve that milestone on its maiden flight. Before that, the sector was largely theoretical or domestic. Now, the hardware has proven itself.
Reflect Orbital isn’t building satellites in the traditional sense. They are developing orbital reflectors—essentially space mirrors—that redirect sunlight to specific spots on Earth. Their pitch: extend solar energy generation past sunset, aid in night-time search and rescue, and light up areas where grid infrastructure fails. Skyroot will be the arm that puts these “space bulbs” into their designated slots.
Ben Nowack, co-founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital, cited a “real launch capacity shortage” as the driver. “We’re excited to work with a new launch provider, Skyroot, to help ensure access to space,” he said. For Chandana, the deal offers schedule certainty. “Reflect Orbital represents the kind of ambitious global space mission the Vikram family is being built to serve,” he noted, highlighting the partnership’s flexibility.
This contract lands on a foundation built since 2018, when former ISRO engineers founded Skyroot with a simple goal: global competitiveness. The path wound through the 2022 Vikram-S suborbital test and years of grueling development. Today, the victory shifts the narrative from domestic capability to international trust.
The next step is operational. Skyroot must now integrate Reflect Orbital’s payload requirements into its upcoming mission schedule. As more private firms globally seek alternative launch options, India’s private sector is moving from observer to vendor. The market is watching to see if this single deal becomes a pattern.