BENGALURU: Space start-up Astrobase Space Technologies Friday unveiled what it described as India’s first privately built “800kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) liquid oxygen-methane rocket engine, named ‘Everest’”, as it seeks to develop reusable launch systems and expand domestic launch infrastructure.The Bengaluru-based company said the engine is designed for medium-lift launch vehicles and forms part of its long-term plan to build an integrated launch ecosystem covering propulsion, manufacturing, testing and launch operations. The next major milestone for the programme will be a full-engine hot-fire test, followed by vehicle integration and orbital launch development.According to the company: “Everest uses the full-flow staged combustion cycle, one of the most complex rocket engine architectures, and is powered by liquid oxygen and methane. The engine has been designed for reusability and offers 800 kN of thrust, a specific impulse of around 340 seconds and a throttle range of 50% to 110%.”The company said it plans to manufacture up to 50 engines annually once its facilities are fully operational, with the capability to hot-fire about one engine every week. It aims to test around 20 engines before attempting its first orbital mission.Its first phase of expansion is intended to support about 100 tonnes of annual launch capacity, with a longer-term goal of exceeding 1,000 tonnes through a higher launch cadence. It also said it was “working towards a launch-on-demand capability that could enable a dedicated mission within 15 days of an urgent national requirement. These targets are yet to be demonstrated”.Astrobase co-founder Neeraj Khandelwal said the engine was intended to establish an industrial capability rather than serve only as a technology demonstrator, adding that India would require indigenous high-thrust propulsion systems as satellite launches increase globally.
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IN-SPACe director (technical) Rajeev Jyoti said Astrobase was among the recipients of IN-SPACe’s Technology Adoption Fund, which is supporting development of the 800 kN engine. He said the programme, as it progresses through development and testing, could contribute to India’s launch capability and create new opportunities in the global space economy.Founded in 2024, Astrobase is developing propulsion systems, test infrastructure and reusable launch technologies from its Bengaluru base.
