The first rocket launched in India was a Nike Apache sounding rocket, which was launched on November 21, 1963, from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The rocket was launched as part of a joint project between the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) and the United States Army. The rocket reached an altitude of 207 kilometers and carried a sodium vapor payload that was used to study the upper atmosphere.

The launch of the Nike Apache rocket marked the beginning of the Indian Space Programme. INCOSPAR was later renamed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. ISRO has since launched a number of satellites and rockets, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which is one of the most successful launch vehicles in the world.

The launch of the first rocket in India was a significant event in the country's space program. It marked the beginning of India's journey into space and its efforts to become a major player in the global space arena.