AstroBase Space Technologies has unveiled the EVEREST, India's first private reusable rocket engine utilizing Full-Flow Staged Combustion technology [2, 4].
The development marks a significant shift for India's private space sector, aiming to reduce launch costs and increase the frequency of orbital access through indigenous reusability.
Based in Bengaluru, the startup developed the 800 kN [2] engine to run on a methalox propellant system, which combines liquid methane and liquid oxygen [3]. This specific engine architecture, known as Full-Flow Staged Combustion, is designed for high efficiency and durability, which are critical factors for vehicles intended for multiple flights.
AstroBase plans to conduct hot-fire testing of the EVEREST engine in the coming months [1, 2]. These tests will serve as the final validation before the company integrates the propulsion system into its reusable launch vehicle. The company has set a target for the first flight of that vehicle in December 2028 [1].
The long-term objective for the Bengaluru-based firm is to establish a high-capacity logistics pipeline to space. AstroBase aims to eventually deliver up to 1,000 tonnes [5] of payload to orbit annually [5]. By building the propulsion systems domestically, the company intends to position India's private industry among the global leaders in space technology [5].
While the company has confirmed the technical specifications of the 800 kN [2] engine, the specific launch site for the 2028 mission has not been disclosed [2]. The project represents one of the most ambitious private efforts in the region to master liquid-oxygen, and liquid-methane propulsion [5].
“AstroBase plans to conduct hot-fire testing of the EVEREST engine in the coming months.”
The transition to methalox propulsion and Full-Flow Staged Combustion represents a leap in technical complexity for India's private space sector. By targeting reusability and a high annual payload capacity, AstroBase is attempting to replicate the cost-reduction models used by global leaders like SpaceX, potentially lowering the barrier for commercial satellite deployment and deep-space research originating from India.
