Reflect Orbital Secured Vikram Rocket Launches
US startup Reflect Orbital has purchased two dedicated flights from India-based Skyroot Aerospace.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Space
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Reflect Orbital, a US-based startup, has finalized an agreement to secure two dedicated rocket launches from the Indian private firm Skyroot Aerospace. The company aims to use these launches to transport its satellite technology designed to redirect sunlight to Earth.
Why it matters
Reflect Orbital pursued this partnership to secure reliable launch capacity amidst a reported global shortage. This deal highlights the growing reliance of American startups on international private space launch providers to deploy their orbital infrastructure.
The agreement follows a recent $60 million funding round for Skyroot in May 2026, which brought the company to a $1.1 billion valuation. Reflect Orbital has secured the necessary FCC licensing to operate its initial spacecraft mission.
The players
Reflect Orbital
A US-based startup company focused on deploying satellite technology that uses orbital mirrors to redirect sunlight to Earth.
Skyroot Aerospace
An Indian private launch company headquartered in Hyderabad that specializes in the development and operation of Vikram rockets.
The details
Reflect Orbital utilizes orbital mirrors to redirect sunlight toward the ground. The company is leveraging Skyroot's Vikram launch vehicle technology, which successfully completed its maiden flight to low Earth orbit on July 18, 2026.
Timeline
2022: Skyroot launched its first rocket into space, the Vikram-S.
May 2026: Skyroot Aerospace successfully raised $60 million in capital.
July 18, 2026: The Vikram-1 rocket completed its debut orbital flight.
The Big Picture
The agreement signals a deepening integration of international private space launch providers into the US aerospace supply chain. By utilizing the Vikram-1 launch vehicle, Reflect Orbital is capitalizing on the maturation of low-cost commercial space flight technologies that followed Skyroot's 2022 entry into the market.
The successful deployment of orbital mirrors could eventually impact energy management and light availability for specific geographic locations on Earth. These technological advancements continue to transition from theoretical concepts to deployable assets as commercial launch costs decrease.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights how global supply chains are adapting to meet the demands of the private space sector. It reinforces the importance of securing launch capacity for startups operating in the increasingly competitive space infrastructure industry.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in the private sector, visit our Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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