Inside India newsletter: Skyroot rocket puts India alongside U.S., China in private orbital launch

Hello, this is Priyanka Salve, writing to you from Singapore.Welcome to the latest edition of "Inside India" — your one-stop destination for stories and developments from the world's fastest-growing large economy.On Saturday, Indian space-tech startup Skyroot successfully test-launched a low-orbit rocket carrying a payload of 350 kilograms, marking its entry into the global satellite launch market dominated by American and Chinese companies. I caught up with the co-founder of Skyroot to unpack what's next for the country's first space tech unicorn. Any thoughts on today's newsletter? Share them with the team.The big storyThe demand for satellite launches is rising globally, as there are just a handful of rocket companies with the capability to make space deliveries. Naga Bharath Daka, co-founder of Indian space tech startup Skyroot that recently joined the elite space club, is determined to capitalize on the opportunity.Skyroot will start its commercial operations in 2027 and plans to launch "one flight every month," he told CNBC, adding that after one more test flight later this year, the launches will be commercialized."We will be the most cost-competitive launch vehicle in this ...