14 - 08 - 2026

Bengaluru Startup Othisis Successfully Hot-Fires 5 kN Fully Cryogenic Rocket Engine

Bengaluru-based space technology startup Othisis has successfully conducted a hot-fire test of its 5 kN fully cryogenic, 3D-printed rocket engine, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to develop reusable launch vehicle technologies.

The engine, which has a reported total impulse of 100 kN·s, is being developed to power Othisis’ reusable hopper rocket, which the company plans to launch and land later this year. The successful hot-fire test represents an important step in validating the propulsion system before the startup moves towards integrated vehicle-level testing.

Demanding area of engineering

Cryogenic propulsion is among the more demanding areas of rocket engineering because it involves the handling and combustion of propellants maintained at extremely low temperatures. Developing a compact cryogenic engine also requires precise control of combustion, turbomachinery, thermal management and propellant feed systems.

Othisis’ use of 3D printing adds another dimension to the development effort. Additive manufacturing can allow complex internal geometries to be produced with fewer components and potentially shorten development cycles compared with conventional manufacturing approaches. For emerging launch companies, such techniques can be particularly valuable in rapidly iterating engine designs and reducing manufacturing complexity.

The 5 kN thrust class places the engine in the small-scale propulsion category, making it suited to technology demonstrators and experimental reusable vehicles rather than large orbital launchers. For Othisis, however, the immediate objective is to demonstrate controlled launch, flight and landing of its hopper platform.

The planned reusable hopper mission will provide an opportunity to test not only the engine but also the vehicle’s propulsion control, guidance, structural performance and landing systems in an integrated flight environment.

The development comes as India’s private space sector increasingly shifts from small satellite technologies towards indigenous propulsion and reusable launch systems. Startups are investing in liquid engines, additive manufacturing, autonomous flight systems and other technologies aimed at reducing the cost and increasing the frequency of access to space.

For Othisis, the successful hot-fire test brings its reusable hopper programme closer to a real-world flight demonstration. If the planned launch and landing attempt later this year succeeds, it could provide the startup with valuable flight data and demonstrate another indigenous pathway towards reusable space transportation technology.

By Subramanya Joshi