Pawan Kumar Chandana’s story is more than a personal success, it’s a paradigm shift in India’s space‑tech landscape. Born and raised in Visakhapatnam, Chandana’s early struggles with mathematics (he once scored 51 marks) did not deter him. Instead, they triggered a transformation, rooted in relentless self‑improvement and scientific curiosity.
He went on to study Mechanical Engineering (dual BTech–MTech) at IIT Kharagpur. Despite modest academic beginnings, he secured a role at ISRO in 2012. There, he worked on heavy‑lift launch vehicles including GSLV‑Mk3, gaining critical experience in rocketry and spacecraft systems.
But Chandana’s ambitions went beyond being an engineer, he envisaged a private‑sector space industry in India. In 2018, along with his co-founder, he established Skyroot Aerospace, a bold move at a time when private space ventures were almost unheard of in India.
Chandana’s gamble paid off. In November 2022, Skyroot successfully launched India’s first privately developed rocket, Vikram‑S, from Sriharikota, a historic milestone that opened doors for commercial space in the country.
Building on that success, Skyroot inaugurated the “Infinity Campus”, India’s largest private rocket manufacturing facility. With 200,000 sq ft of integrated design, manufacturing, and testing infrastructure, the campus is tailored to build orbital‑class launchers and support a 300‑member workforce.
Under Chandana’s leadership, Skyroot raised substantial funding, gained global investor backing, and is now preparing its first orbital rocket launch. The startup aims for frequent launches, potentially making India a competitive destination in the global small‑sat launch market.Chandana’s journey, from a 51‑mark student to a pioneer of India’s private space sector, underscores a simple yet powerful message: past grades don’t define future potential. His story inspires engineers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers alike, proving that with passion, persistence, and fearless ambition, the stars are within reach.
