Pawan Kumar Chandana's journey from an average student to India's leading private rocket factory owner is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. It's a story that inspires and challenges our understanding of success and innovation.
Chandana's story begins with a seemingly ordinary score of 51 in mathematics during his school days. This low mark, however, sparked a curiosity for machines and a desire to excel. His father's determination to enroll him in IIT JEE coaching set the stage for a remarkable transformation. This decision, coupled with Chandana's own academic improvement, led him to IIT Kharagpur, where he earned a dual BTech-MTech degree in Mechanical Engineering.
What sets Chandana apart is his unwavering passion for rockets and space. While many of his peers pursued high-paying jobs and international careers, he was drawn to the world of space exploration. This led him to join ISRO as a scientist in 2012, a decision that would shape his future.
During his time at ISRO, Chandana made significant contributions to India's space program. He worked on the GSLV Mk-III, the S-200 solid booster for GSLV Mk-II, and served as the deputy project manager for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). His dedication and expertise were recognized with an internal innovation award in 2016.
However, Chandana's true passion lay in building a space-tech company from India. Despite the challenges of private rocket development being neither allowed nor funded at the time, he took a bold step in 2018. He quit his comfortable job at ISRO and embarked on a journey to establish Skyroot Aerospace, a private rocket company.
The road to success was not without obstacles. Chandana faced the struggle of raising funding during the COVID-19 pandemic. But his perseverance paid off when he secured investments from industry leaders like Mukesh Bansal and the founders of Greenko. In 2020, Skyroot Aerospace became the first private Indian company to test a rocket engine, a significant milestone.
The company's success continued to grow. In 2021, with the Indian government opening the space sector to private companies, Skyroot Aerospace signed an MoU with ISRO and raised India's largest DeepTech cheque of $51 million. This led to the launch of Vikram S, India's first privately developed suborbital rocket, in November 2022.
Skyroot Aerospace's rapid growth and achievements have been remarkable. The company's valuation has soared to around $1.1 billion, and it has established the country's largest private rocket manufacturing unit. In May 2026, Skyroot Aerospace made history again by raising $60 million in funding, solidifying its position as a global player in the space industry.
Chandana's story is a powerful reminder that passion and perseverance can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. It challenges the notion that success is solely defined by academic or professional achievements, instead emphasizing the importance of following one's dreams and taking calculated risks.
As Skyroot Aerospace prepares for its next milestone, the orbital launch of Vikram-1 in 2026, Chandana's journey continues to inspire. It serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, proving that even the most ambitious dreams can become reality with determination and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
