Dholera Makes History: Gujarat’s First Sounding Rocket Successfully Launched

India achieved a significant milestone in the private space sector as Gujarat’s first sounding rocket was successfully launched from Dholera (near Ahmedabad) by an Indian startup.

The single-stage sub-orbital rocket reached an altitude of about 3 km within seconds and safely returned using a dual-parachute recovery system, marking a successful test of critical technologies.

This is the first-ever rocket launch from Gujarat’s soil, highlighting the growing role of private players in India’s space ecosystem.

Key Highlights

Developed by Ahmedabad-based startup OmSpace Rocket & Exploration (OSRE).

Rocket used indigenous technologies such as:

3D-printed igniter

Sugar-based solid fuel

Carbon-fibre airframe

Launch conducted with approvals from agencies like IN-SPACe, DGCA, and AAI.

Validated systems: propulsion, avionics, and recovery mechanism.

What is a Sounding Rocket?

A sounding rocket is a sub-orbital rocket used for scientific research.

It collects data on:

Temperature

Pressure

Upper atmospheric conditions

These rockets are cost-effective and used for testing technologies before larger missions.

Additional Important Facts

India’s space journey began with sounding rockets in the 1960s (Thumba, Kerala).

India’s first privately built rocket: Vikram-S (launched in 2022).

The private space sector is regulated by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre.

Dholera is part of the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), a major industrial smart city project in Gujarat.

The startup plans to develop a reusable orbital launch vehicle (“Infinity One”) in future.