While millions of people watched Vikram-1 take off, celebrating a landmark moment in India’s private spaceflight, few knew about the engineers working quietly behind the scenes to make it possible.One of them was Prithvi Sanghani. Born in a farming family in Gujarat, he grew up away from the basics and the industrial environment. Today, he is among the engineers who helped develop the pilot control system for Vikram-1, India’s first privately built rocket – a journey that shows how determination, education and hard work can take students from small towns to the frontiers of space technology.
From a farming family to a growing part of India
Prithvi’s story begins in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where he grew up in a farming family.After completing his engineering degree from Rajkot, he chose to study in an area that few students pursue—Missile Technology. He went on to earn a master’s degree in the subject from Pune, laying the foundation for a career in defense and aerospace.His first major job came at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), where he worked as a Project Engineer and contributed to India’s weapons programs.For many engineers, that would be a dream job. But Prithvi was keen to be part of India’s fast-growing biotech industry.
Engineer in charge of the Vikram-1 system
He later joined Skyroot Aerospace, being part of the team working on Mission Aagaman.As the Control System Lead for Vikram-1’s autopilot system, Prithvi contributed to one of the rocket’s most important functions – helping to ensure that it remained on the intended path during the mission.Although rockets often draw headlines, thousands of hours of engineering, testing and programming go into making each successful launch possible.Prithvi’s contribution is a reminder that behind every space project there are teams of engineers who solve complex problems before the countdown begins.
A lesson for students who dream of a career in space
The aerospace sector in India is rapidly evolving, creating opportunities not only in the government sector but also in the aerospace industry that work on cutting-edge technologies.Prithvi’s journey shows that students don’t need to leave the big cities or the developed world to support the world’s top engineering careers. The important thing is to build a strong foundation, pursue a unique knowledge and stay motivated to continue learning.For any student interested in rockets, satellites or aerospace engineering, his story offers an inspiring message: your background doesn’t determine your destination.And for any girl who doubts whether astronomy is her place, Prithvi Sanghani has already shown that the answer is yes.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information about Prithvi Sanghani’s academic and scholarly journey. They are designed for educational and informative purposes only.