EVEREST: India’s First Privately-Built FFSC Rocket Engine

10 Aug 2026

Subject: GS 03: Science and Technology

Context: Bengaluru-based space startup Astrobase Space Technologies has launched EVEREST.

This launch makes India the fourth nation to have FFSC engine technology after Russia, USA and China.

About EVEREST

EVEREST

It is India’s first fully integrated Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine.
- It is designed, manufactured, and integrated entirely in India.
Powered by: It is powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid methane (methalox).
Specification: It uses a Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) cycle.
- - In this cycle both the fuel and oxidiser pass through separate pre-burners before driving the turbopumps and entering the main combustion chamber.
  - This improves efficiency and supports repeated engine use.
- It produces 800 kN of vacuum thrust.
- It has a specific impulse of around 340 seconds.
- It offers a throttle range of 50% to 110%.
Usability: The engine is intended to power future medium-lift launch vehicles and is designed with reusability in mind.
Key Advantage:
- Better propellant utilisation → higher efficiency and performance
- Enables reusable launches up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO); supports medium-lift platforms
- Supports commercial and strategic missions for Indian Government and international customers

Features	Conventional engines	FFSC Rocket engines
Propellant use	Only a portion of propellants is used to drive turbopumps	Both fuel and oxidiser are routed through separate pre-burners
Turbopumps	Less efficient	Operates more efficiently
Propellant utilisation	Not all propellants ultimately contribute to thrust	All propellants ultimately contribute to generating thrust
Reusability		Well suited for reusable launch systems