India’s Skyroot Aerospace and Brazil’s Concert Technologies sign a two-year agreement to develop a satellite launch vehicle capable of carrying at least 100 kg into low Earth orbit.
India and Brazil are strengthening their space-sector cooperation through a partnership between Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace and Brazil's Concert Technologies to jointly develop a satellite launch vehicle capable of carrying payloads of at least 100 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO). The initiative aims to combine technological capabilities from both countries and expand access to affordable commercial satellite launch services.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2026 during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya, Turkiye. The agreement was signed by Rafael Mordente, CEO of Concert Space, in the presence of Brazilian Senator and astronaut Marcos Pontes and Brazilian Space Agency President Marco Antonio Chamon.
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The proposed launch vehicle is designed to bridge the capacity gap between Brazil's Microlauncher Brasileiro (MLBR), which is being developed to carry payloads of up to 40 kilograms, and the larger Vikram rocket family developed by Skyroot Aerospace. By targeting payloads starting at 100 kilograms, the partnership aims to address demand from satellite operators seeking dedicated launch opportunities for small and medium-sized spacecraft.
The companies will explore the integration of complementary technologies and engineering capabilities to develop a launch system suitable for different orbital missions, particularly equatorial launches. The collaboration will also examine potential opportunities involving satellite systems and low Earth orbit constellations, which are increasingly being used for communications, Earth observation and other commercial applications.
Under the two-year MoU, both companies will work towards defining the technical and commercial requirements of the proposed vehicle. This phase will include evaluating technological compatibility, determining the development framework and identifying potential market opportunities. Investments, equipment supplies, manufacturing arrangements and commercialisation will be addressed through separate agreements following the initial assessment.
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Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace was founded in 2018 and has emerged as a significant participant in India's private space industry. The company became the first Indian private enterprise to launch a rocket into space with its Vikram-S mission in November 2022. Its Vikram-1 orbital launch achievement in July 2026 further advanced its commercial launch capabilities.
Concert Technologies participates in Brazil's Microlauncher Programme consortium, which brings together companies developing domestic launch vehicle technologies. The broader programme aims to strengthen Brazil's aerospace manufacturing and technical capabilities with support from national institutions.