EVEREST: India's First Private Full-Flow Rocket Engine

#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Space #GS-2 #Current Events #National #Space Technology #IN-SPACe #Rocket Engine #Astrobase Space Technologies

Key takeaways

Astrobase Space Technologies has unveiled EVEREST, India's first privately developed 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion rocket engine.
Founded in 2024 by former ISRO scientist Devakumar Thammisetty and Neeraj Khandelwal, the startup receives support from the IN-SPACe Technology Adoption Fund.
The engine offers a dynamic throttling range of 50% to 110% and a specific impulse of 340 seconds using clean-burning LOX-Methane propellant.
Testing will take place at a 21.5-acre facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, with plans to build 20 engines before orbital launches.

Bengaluru-based space startup Astrobase Space Technologies has revealed EVEREST, which is India's first privately built 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion liquid-propellant rocket engine.

The EVEREST engine is an indigenous 800 kN liquid-propellant rocket engine that uses Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer and Liquid Methane as fuel.
Former ISRO scientist Devakumar Thammisetty and entrepreneur Neeraj Khandelwal founded Astrobase Space Technologies in 2024 to build advanced propulsion systems.
The project receives financial and technical backing through the IN-SPACe Technology Adoption Fund.
The primary goal of this engine is to power medium-lift reusable rockets capable of carrying up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit.

The engine directs 100% of both fuel and oxidizer through two separate preburners instead of using traditional partial-flow cycles.
A fuel-rich preburner powers the methane fuel pump, while an oxidizer-rich preburner drives the liquid oxygen pump.
Hot gas from both preburners flows straight into the main chamber, eliminating propellant waste and reducing thermal stress on machinery.

The engine delivers 800 kN of maximum thrust and achieves a specific impulse of about 340 seconds for high fuel efficiency.
Using Methalox propellant prevents soot build-up inside internal components, making inspection and reuse simple after every flight.
The system offers dynamic throttling between 50% and 110%, which helps control descent speed during vertical landings.
Engine components are manufactured using large metal 3D printers in Bengaluru, allowing complex internal cooling channels.
Integrated hot-fire testing will take place at a 21.5-acre facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, with plans to test 20 engines before orbital launch.

Astrobase joins a small global group developing full-flow staged combustion engines, where SpaceX's Raptor is currently the only operational model.
Developing reusable Methalox technology lowers launch costs significantly and strengthens India's standing in the global commercial space market.