Pawan Chandana, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, India's pioneering private space company, recently shared an inspiring message for students considering a career in aerospace. Following the successful launch of Skyroot's Vikram-1 orbital rocket, Chandana reflected on his own journey, emphasizing that passion, not initial pay, should guide career choices.
Passion Over Pay: A Career Philosophy
In an interview, Chandana recalled joining the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with a monthly salary of just Rs 35,000. He recounted how, even during his IIT days, advice often discouraged students from aerospace engineering due to perceived limited opportunities and lower salaries. Chandana firmly rejected this notion, stating, "We should never, never think about what the pay is. I feel if you want to make it big, just follow your passions, you'll have a most satisfying life."
He argued that genuine enjoyment in one's work leads to exponential growth and success. While aerospace salaries might initially lag behind sectors like finance, Chandana believes the rapidly expanding private space industry in India is poised to transform earning potential significantly.
Booming Private Space Sector in India
Chandana highlighted the dramatic shift in India's aerospace landscape. "The space sector today has created employment for 5,000 people in the last three to four years. I think that's just the beginning," he noted. He pointed to examples like SpaceX, which has created numerous millionaires, suggesting a similar trajectory for India as its private space companies mature. "When you have like five to 10 successful space startups in India... you'll have so many millionaires coming out from the country," he projected.
Building Skyroot: A Different Path
Addressing how Skyroot managed to build a rocket company without the vast personal wealth Elon Musk brought to SpaceX, Chandana explained their distinct approach. "I was a government employee. You can imagine how much money I made. I had zero money while starting." Unlike Musk, who leveraged existing wealth, Skyroot had to convince investors to back a long-term vision that required substantial investment before generating revenue.
The company successfully attracted major institutional investors by demonstrating the massive business opportunity and the unique technological stack they were developing. Chandana observed that investor interest in the commercial space sector has surged as companies prove viable business models.
Vikram-1: A Historic Milestone
Recently, Skyroot Aerospace achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket, under its 'Mission Aagaman'. The rocket successfully deployed multiple technology-demonstration payloads into low Earth orbit, including a symbolic postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Skyroot hailed the mission as a "grand success," marking the official entry of India's private sector into the orbital launch market.