US startup Reflect Orbital books two launches with Hyderabad's Skyroot Aerospace

California-based space technology startup Reflect Orbital has contracted Indian private launch provider Skyroot Aerospace for two dedicated rocket launches, marking a major milestone for India's rapidly expanding commercial space industry.

The Hyderabad-based company will deploy Reflect Orbital's future spacecraft using its Vikram rocket family. The agreement reflects the growing global confidence in India's private space sector, which has flourished following strategic policy reforms designed to transform the country into a global launch hub.

What happened

Reflect Orbital announced the purchase of two dedicated launches from Skyroot to ensure reliable access to space amid a global shortage of launch capacity. The US firm is developing orbital mirrors designed to reflect sunlight to specific locations on Earth at night, offering targeted illumination for applications such as solar power generation and emergency search-and-rescue missions.

Reflect Orbital recently secured an operating licence from the US Federal Communications Commission for its initial spacecraft. Chief executive Ben Nowack noted that securing dedicated launches with Skyroot offers crucial schedule certainty and capacity to complement the firm's planned US launches.

"There's a real launch capacity shortage right now. We're excited to work with a new launch provider, Skyroot, to help ensure access to space," Mr Nowack said.

India's rising private space power

The contract extends Skyroot’s commercial launch manifest across its Vikram rocket fleet and strengthens India's status as a cost-effective, high-reliability destination for global satellite operators.

Skyroot Aerospace co-founder and chief executive Pawan Kumar Chandana said Reflect Orbital represents the ambitious global missions the Vikram family was designed to support, offering launch schedule flexibility and mission certainty.

Skyroot became India’s first spacetech unicorn in May 2026 after raising nearly $60 million at a $1.1 billion valuation. The firm made history in July 2026 when its Vikram-1 rocket successfully reached orbit on its maiden flight, four years after its initial suborbital test launch.

What happens next

Specific launch dates and financial details for the two missions have not been disclosed by either firm. However, the partnership reinforces India's growing role in international commercial space transportation, driven by cutting-edge engineering and robust domestic aerospace infrastructure.