Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Astrobase Unveils EVEREST Engine to Boost India's Launch Capability
A company in India called Astrobase Space Technologies has shown off a brand-new rocket engine.
The engine is named EVEREST, just like the tallest mountain in the world.
It is very powerful and can lift heavy things into space.
The engine uses a mix of methane and liquid oxygen as fuel.
Astrobase's own team in India designed and built the engine from scratch.
The company wants to make rockets that can be used again and again for new launches.
This is a big step for private space companies in India.
The company hopes to build up to 50 of these engines every year.
Before the first real space mission, they plan to build and test around 20 engines.
The next big test will be firing the full engine to make sure it works properly.
Astrobase Space Technologies unveiled EVEREST, an 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine in Bengaluru.
Co-founder and CEO Neeraj Khandelwal said the engine was designed and engineered entirely by Astrobase's in-house team.
EVEREST delivers 800 kN of thrust, has a throttle range of 50% to 110%, and offers a specific impulse of around 340 seconds.
The engine is intended to power reusable medium-lift launch vehicles and support commercial, strategic, and national missions.
Astrobase plans to manufacture up to 50 EVEREST engines annually and build about 20 engines before attempting its first orbital flight.
- Who
- Astrobase Space Technologies, led by Co-founder and CEO Neeraj Khandelwal, with IN-SPACe's Rajeev Jyoti and other officials present
- What
- Unveiled EVEREST, an 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine for reusable medium-lift launch vehicles
- When
- Announced on Monday during a media interaction in Bengaluru
- Where
- Bengaluru, India
- Why
- To build India's privately developed launch infrastructure, strengthen reusable launch capability, and increase India's share of the global space economy
- Company
- Astrobase Space Technologies
- Engine Name
- EVEREST
- Engine Type
- 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine
- Thrust
- 800 kN
- Throttle Range
- 50% to 110%
- Specific Impulse
- Around 340 seconds
- Production Target
- Up to 50 engines annually
- Next Milestone
- Full-engine hot-fire test before first orbital launch