Explained: How India's first private FFSC rocket engine could boost space ambitions
In a significant development for India's private space sector, Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies unveiled the country's first privately built 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine, named EVEREST, on August 7, 2026. This achievement places India in an exclusive club of nations—only Russia, the United States, and China have previously demonstrated this advanced engine technology.
FFSC rocket engines represent one of the most sophisticated liquid rocket engine architectures. In a staged combustion cycle, fuel and oxidiser are burned in two stages. Unlike conventional engines where a portion of propellants is diverted to drive turbopumps, an FFSC engine routes both fuel and oxidiser through separate pre-burners before they enter the main combustion chamber. This design ensures that all propellants contribute to thrust generation, improving efficiency and enabling precise throttle control—key attributes for reusable launch systems.
Neeraj Khandelwal, co-founder and CEO of Astrobase, explained the advantages: “This allows the turbopumps to operate more efficiently while ensuring that all of the propellants ultimately contribute to generating thrust. The architecture offers several long-term advantages. It enables high propulsion efficiency, supports precise throttle control and is well suited for reusable launch systems. When paired with LOX-Methane propellants, it also benefits from cleaner combustion, which can simplify refurbishment and support faster turnaround between missions.”
The FFSC cycle is notably complex to design and develop compared to conventional engine cycles. Khandelwal, who founded Astrobase in 2024 with former ISRO scientist Devakumar Thammisetty, stressed the strategic importance: “At Astrobase, we see this as an important technology for building indigenous launch capability and strengthening India’s long-term access to space.”
Globally, only three commercial firms have successfully developed high-thrust FFSC engines: SpaceX and Stoke Space of the United States, and Land Space of China. Among these, only SpaceX’s Raptor is currently operational. Astrobase becomes the fourth company globally and the first in India to achieve this milestone.
The EVEREST engine is also the first high-thrust LOX-Methane engine built by an Indian company, aligning with the industry trend toward cleaner, next-generation propulsion. The company states that this engine unlocks reusable launch capabilities for payloads up to 30 tonnes to low Earth orbit, offering a medium-lift platform for commercial and strategic missions for the Indian government and international clients.
The engine was developed using advanced manufacturing techniques, including what is described as India’s largest industrial 3D printer. Development began in 2024, and within two years, the company unveiled the fully assembled engine at its facility on the outskirts of Bengaluru. So far, only subsystems have been tested; a fully integrated test is yet to be conducted.
While the timeline for EVEREST to power an actual rocket with satellites remains unclear, the unveiling marks a notable step for India’s private space ecosystem. The technology's successful development could enhance India’s self-reliance in space transportation and potentially position domestic companies as players in the global launch market.
