EVEREST Rocket Engine

Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies has unveiled EVEREST, an 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX–Methane rocket engine. It represents an important development in India’s private space sector, particularly in the field of advanced propulsion and reusable launch vehicles.

Key Features of EVEREST

The EVEREST engine is designed to produce 800 kN of thrust and has a specific impulse of approximately 340 seconds. It offers a 50–110% throttle range, allowing precise control of engine thrust. The engine is being developed for reusable medium-lift launch vehicles.

Full-Flow Staged Combustion Technology

In an FFSC engine, both the fuel and oxidiser pass through separate pre-burners before entering the main combustion chamber. The gases generated in the pre-burners drive the turbopumps and are subsequently directed into the main combustion chamber.

This architecture enables more complete utilisation of propellants and provides high efficiency and performance, making FFSC particularly suitable for reusable launch systems.

LOX–Methane Propulsion

EVEREST uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and methane as propellants. Methane provides relatively clean combustion and is considered suitable for engines designed for multiple reuses.

The combination of LOX–methane propulsion and FFSC architecture is therefore aimed at improving the efficiency and reusability of future launch vehicles.

Reusable Launch Vehicle

Astrobase is developing EVEREST as part of a reusable launch system intended to reduce launch costs and turnaround time while providing precise thrust control.

The proposed vehicle architecture targets approximately 3 tonnes of payload to a 500-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and is designed for Return-to-Launch-Site (RTLS) recovery.

Development Roadmap

Development of EVEREST began in 2024, and its subsystems have already undergone testing. A major milestone planned for 2026 is full-scale engine hot-fire testing at Astrobase’s facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

This is expected to be followed by stage-level testing and vehicle integration. The company plans to manufacture and test around 20 engines before the first orbital flight, which is targeted for 2028.

Government Support

Astrobase has received support through IN-SPACe’s Technology Adoption Fund, which promotes private-sector development of advanced and technically demanding space technologies, including propulsion systems.

Global Significance

According to Astrobase, India would become the fourth country after Russia, the United States and China to develop FFSC technology, while Astrobase describes itself as the fourth commercial company globally developing a high-thrust FFSC engine.

Strategic Significance for India

The successful development and operationalisation of EVEREST could strengthen India's capabilities in reusable launch vehicles, indigenous propulsion and high-frequency launches. It could also reduce dependence on foreign propulsion technologies and enhance India's participation in the global commercial space economy.