Pawan Kumar Chandana's journey from a math whiz with a 51 mark score to India's leading private rocket factory owner is nothing short of extraordinary. It's a tale of ambition, innovation, and the power of following your dreams, even when they seem impossible. But what makes Chandana's story truly captivating is the unexpected twist of fate that led him to become a pioneer in the space industry.
Chandana's academic journey began with a seemingly ordinary start. Born in Hyderabad, Telangana, in 1991, he grew up in a middle-class family with a natural curiosity for machines. However, his academic record didn't exactly inspire confidence, with a math score of 51 marks in school. But his father's unwavering belief in him led to him enrolling in IIT JEE coaching, which would change the course of his life.
It was during his preparation for the IIT entrance exam that Chandana's academic fortunes took a turn for the better. He fell in love with math and science, and his passion for rockets and space was ignited. This newfound interest led him to IIT Kharagpur, where he earned a dual BTech-MTech degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Despite his academic success, Chandana's true calling lay in the realm of space exploration. In 2012, he joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as a scientist, working at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. During his six years at ISRO, he made significant contributions to several projects, including the GSLV Mk-III and the S-200 solid booster for GSLV Mk-II. He even served as the deputy project manager for ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
However, Chandana's true passion lay in entrepreneurship. In 2018, he quit his job at ISRO, a move that many would call a risky one. Despite having no background in business or a professional network, he began his journey by cold-messaging Mukesh Bansal, the founder of Myntra, CureFit, and NuRX, on LinkedIn. To his surprise, Bansal, a fellow IIT Kharagpur alumnus, believed in his vision and invested $1.5 million in his venture.
But the road to success was not without its challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic made raising a Series A funding a struggle. Just when his dream seemed impossible, the founders of renewable energy giant Greenko stepped in with financial backing. In June 2018, Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, a fellow ISRO engineer and IIT Bombay alumnus, co-founded Skyroot Aerospace in Hyderabad.
Skyroot Aerospace quickly became a pioneer in the space industry. In July 2020, the company became the first private Indian company to test a rocket engine, the Raman-1, named after Nobel laureate C.V. Raman. In 2021, when the Indian government opened the space sector to private companies, Skyroot Aerospace became the first private player to sign an MoU with ISRO and later raised India's largest DeepTech cheque of $51 million.
On November 18, 2022, Skyroot Aerospace made history by launching Vikram S, India's first privately developed suborbital rocket. The rocket lifted off from ISRO's Sriharikota launch range and reached an altitude of 90km. This achievement marked a significant milestone for the company and the Indian space industry.
Today, Skyroot Aerospace is valued at around $1.1 billion and is preparing for the next milestone, Vikram-1, an orbital launch scheduled for 2026. If successful, Skyroot could join the top five private companies globally capable of regular orbital missions. The USA has SpaceX, New Zealand has Rocket Lab, and India has Skyroot.
Chandana's journey is a testament to the power of innovation and the human spirit. It's a story of following your dreams, even when they seem impossible, and the unexpected twists of fate that can lead to success. It's a story that inspires us to think big, take risks, and never give up on our passions, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.
