Bengaluru-based space technology startup Astrobase Space Technologies has introduced Everest, India’s first fully integrated full-flow staged combustion (FFSC) rocket engine, marking a significant milestone in the country’s private space sector. The advanced propulsion system is expected to strengthen India’s capabilities in developing reusable launch vehicles and reducing the cost of access to space.
The Everest engine is powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen, commonly referred to as methalox propellants, and is designed to produce around 800 kilonewtons of thrust. According to the company, the engine has been developed entirely in India and incorporates one of the most advanced propulsion cycles used in modern rocketry.
The FFSC cycle is regarded as a highly efficient and technically demanding engine architecture. It enables improved fuel efficiency, greater performance, and enhanced reliability compared with conventional rocket engines. The technology has gained global recognition through its use in next-generation reusable launch systems, making Astrobase’s achievement a notable development for India’s growing commercial space industry.
Astrobase plans to use multiple Everest engines to power a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle capable of placing satellites into low Earth orbit. The company’s long-term vision includes recovering and reusing the rocket’s first stage, a strategy aimed at significantly lowering launch costs and increasing mission frequency.
To accelerate production and improve precision, the startup has employed large-scale metal 3D printing for manufacturing several complex engine components. The approach is expected to shorten production timelines while reducing manufacturing costs.The company is now preparing for the first full-scale hot-fire test of the engine at its privately developed test facility near Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. The trial will evaluate the engine’s performance under operating conditions before it advances to further stages of development.
