India Begins Testing of 110-Tonne LOX-Methane Rocket Engine; Full Development Targeted Within Months

Bengaluru, August 2025 – India has taken a major step in next-generation space propulsion with the start of testing for a 110-tonne liquid oxygen–methane (LOX-methane) rocket engine. The high-thrust engine, designed for the nation’s future launch systems, is expected to be fully developed within three months and ready for operational integration by next year. Work has also begun on developing a dedicated rocket stage that will utilize this powerful engine.

Why Methane Matters in Space Propulsion

Traditional Indian launch vehicles use propellants such as UDMH/N2O4 or kerosene-based fuels in their engines. The switch to methane brings several important advantages:

• Cleaner Combustion – Methane burns more cleanly than conventional fuels, leaving almost no carbon deposits. This makes engines easier to reuse and reduces maintenance.

• High Efficiency – LOX-methane engines can achieve higher specific impulse, improving payload capacity and cost-effectiveness.

• Restart Capability – The engine can be reignited multiple times during flight, making it ideal for orbital maneuvers and booster recovery.

• Future Exploration – Methane can potentially be produced on Mars from local resources, making it highly attractive for future human missions beyond Earth.

Engine Development Timeline

• Initial Testing – Ground tests of the 110-tonne class engine have begun at ISRO’s test facilities.

• Full Development – Engineers aim to complete development and validation within the next three months.

• Readiness by Next Year – The engine is scheduled to be fully qualified and ready for integration by 2026.

• Rocket Stage Development – Parallel work has started to design and build the first rocket stage powered by this LOX-methane engine.

Part of India’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) Program

The new methalox engine is a core element of ISRO’s planned Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) – a semi-reusable rocket designed to replace the PSLV and GSLV families over the coming decades.

NGLV is envisioned as a cost-effective, heavy-lift system with the following features:

• Reusable booster stage for reduced costs.

• Expendable or semi-reusable upper stages depending on mission needs.

• Designed for payloads ranging from 10 to 20 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

• Compatibility with future human spaceflight and interplanetary missions.

The 110-tonne LOX-methane engine is set to power the core stages of this ambitious rocket.

Strategic Significance

• Self-Reliance – Developing such engines indigenously reduces dependence on foreign technologies.

• Global Standing – With this milestone, India moves closer to joining a select group of nations, including the U.S. and China, that have tested high-thrust methane engines.

• Reusable Future – Methane propulsion is considered essential for cost-effective reusable rockets, similar to SpaceX’s Starship and China’s Long March-9 programs.

• Next-Gen Missions – Beyond satellite launches, this technology could power deep-space missions and support India’s long-term human spaceflight ambitions.

The start of testing for the 110-tonne LOX-methane engine marks a new era for India’s space program. Within the next year, the fully developed engine is expected to be integrated with a new rocket stage, setting the foundation for India’s future heavy-lift and reusable launch systems.

This achievement not only accelerates India’s progress toward advanced, eco-friendly propulsion, but also strengthens its position in the global race for next-generation space technology.