IIT Kharagpur Graduate Pawan Chandana Enters TIME100 Next 2026 List After Skyroot’s Space Milestone

Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder and chief executive officer of Skyroot Aerospace, has been featured in TIME magazine’s TIME100 Next 2026 list, which recognises emerging leaders across different fields. His inclusion comes after the Hyderabad-based space technology company achieved a major milestone with the successful orbital launch of its Vikram-1 rocket in July 2026.

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, Chandana has played a key role in developing India’s private space launch industry. Before establishing Skyroot Aerospace, he worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), where he gained experience in rocket development. 

Who Is Pawan Kumar Chandana?

Chandana is an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Skyroot Aerospace in 2018 with Naga Bharath Daka. The company was established to develop launch vehicles capable of carrying satellites into space, with a focus on making satellite launches more accessible to customers.

After completing his engineering education at IIT Kharagpur, Chandana worked at ISRO before moving into the private space sector. His transition from working on India’s space programmes to building a commercial rocket company has been a significant part of his professional journey. 

Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Mission

Skyroot’s recent progress has brought additional attention to Chandana’s work. On July 18, 2026, the company successfully launched Vikram-1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission marked the first successful orbital launch from Indian soil by a privately developed Indian rocket, according to ISRO.

The launch vehicle carried multiple payloads, including satellites that were deployed into low Earth orbit. The mission represented a milestone for India’s commercial space sector and demonstrated the growing role of private companies in developing launch capabilities. 

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 is designed to support small satellite launches, with the company highlighting its capacity to carry payloads of up to 350 kg to low Earth orbit. Its development forms part of the company’s broader effort to offer dedicated and shared launch services to satellite operators. 

From IIT Kharagpur to the TIME100 Next 2026

IIT Kharagpur takes immense pride in celebrating its Distinguished Alumnus, Mr. Pawan Kumar Chandana (Dual Degree, Mechanical Engineering, 2012), Co-Founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace, on being named to TIME’s 2026 TIME100 Next,… pic.twitter.com/mHuFPkbrbW

— IIT Kharagpur (@IITKgp) October 2, 2026

India’s Expanding Private Space Sector

Skyroot’s work is part of a wider expansion in India’s private space industry following the opening of the sector to greater private participation in 2020. Start-ups are increasingly involved in developing launch vehicles, manufacturing satellites and providing space-related services.

Chandana’s inclusion in TIME100 Next 2026 brings international recognition to his entrepreneurial journey and the work being undertaken by India’s emerging space technology companies.

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