Astrobase Space Technologies has unveiled Everest, India’s first fully integrated full‑flow staged combustion (FFSC) rocket engine.

The 800 Kilonewtons-class methalox engine, designed and manufactured in Bangalore, marks a historic leap for India’s private space sector and places the country among a select group of nations capable of advancing this highly complex propulsion technology.

Astrobase introduced Everest on 7 August 2026, confirming it as India’s first fully integrated FFSC engine. The engine is rated at 800 kilonewtons of thrust, equivalent to lifting 80 tonnes in vacuum conditions. It runs on liquid oxygen and liquid methane, a propellant combination known as methalox, which burns cleaner than kerosene and is better suited for reusable launch vehicles.

The FFSC cycle is regarded as one of the most advanced rocket engine architectures. In this design, both fuel and oxidiser are channelled through separate pre-burners before entering the main combustion chamber.

This process ensures that all propellants are fully gasified, enabling extreme chamber pressures exceeding 300 bar, higher efficiency, and reduced stress on components. The result is an engine capable of multiple reuses, longer lifespan, and higher performance compared to conventional staged combustion systems.

Astrobase has already achieved several milestones leading up to this unveiling. A sub‑scale hot‑fire test was conducted in September 2025, followed by high‑speed turbopump trials in January 2026.

The 'Everest' engine involves extraordinary convergence of complex technologies & engineering
The company now plans a full‑scale hot‑fire test later this year at its 21.5‑acre propulsion test facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

This site is capable of handling thrust levels up to 200 tonnes, making it one of the most advanced private test facilities in India.

The engine’s design incorporates throttle capability, allowing thrust modulation between 50% and 110%. This is critical for controlled landings and reusability.

Astrobase intends to cluster multiple Everest engines on a medium‑lift rocket to launch satellites into low Earth orbit, with plans to recover the first stage for reuse.

The company also aims to manufacture up to 50 engines annually, with a target of hot‑firing one engine per week once facilities are fully operational.

Astrobase’s infrastructure includes a 46,000‑square‑foot assembly and integration facility in Bengaluru, equipped with India’s largest industrial metal 3D printer. This enables rapid production of intricate core components, reducing costs and accelerating development cycles.

The company was founded in 2024 by Devakumar Thammisetty, a former ISRO propulsion engineer, and Neeraj Khandelwal, co‑founder of CoinDCX.

The unveiling of Everest positions India as only the fourth country after the Soviet Union, the United States, and China to develop an FFSC engine. Globally, only SpaceX’s Raptor has successfully flown using this architecture. If Astrobase’s upcoming tests succeed, India will join an elite club of nations mastering one of the most technically demanding propulsion systems ever built.

This achievement comes just weeks after Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram‑1 became India’s first privately developed orbital rocket to reach space on 18 July 2026.

Together, these milestones highlight the rapid growth of India’s private space industry, which is increasingly contributing to national ambitions of building a $44 billion space economy by 2034.

Everest is not just a technology demonstrator but part of a broader program to establish indigenous high‑thrust propulsion systems. Astrobase has received support from IN‑SPACe’s Technology Adoption Fund, ensuring financial and regulatory backing tied to technical milestones.

The company is also working towards launch‑on‑demand capability, aiming to deliver dedicated missions within 15 days of urgent national requirements.

Agencies