Stardour Successfully Tests India’s First In‑House Hydrogen‑Oxygen Engine

July 29, 2025

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Why Is Stardour in The News?

Hyderabad-based aerospace startup Stardour successfully test-fired India’s first in‑house hydrogen‑oxygen propulsion engine: a clean, efficient alternative to traditional kerosene or hypergolic fuels

Stardour is developing a modular Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), named Lucas, capable of transporting payloads from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geostationary Orbit (GEO), lunar trajectories, or even deeper space.

Unlike traditional rocket fuels, hydrogen-oxygen engines emit only water vapour, making them eco-friendly.

Launch of a flight demonstrator is planned for Q3 2027, with commercial operations targeted for 2028 and further versions for deeper space missions by 2031.

What sets Stardour’s launch apart?

Stardour Aerospace Technologies Pvt. Ltd. is a Hyderabad-based private space startup founded in September 2020 by Dhanush Pabbathi and Sankarsh Chanda. The company is focused on developing sustainable and modular in-space transportation systems. Its core mission is to revolutionise space logistics through the creation of a reusable Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) platform called “Lucas”, which can transport satellites and cargo between various orbits, including towards the Moon and Mars.

It is set apart from others as it is:

India’s first hydrogen-oxygen engine, built completely in-house by a startup.
A modular, reusable spacecraft platform: pushing the boundaries of orbital logistics.
A clear focus on sustainability, aligning with global environmental goals.

The system was developed at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in collaboration with academic and industry partners.

With this achievement, Stardour joins an elite group of global space players developing clean propulsion and deep space transport vehicles, all from Indian soil.

In a time when overall investment in the space sector has fallen sharply, Stardour’s breakthrough demonstrates that Indian startups can still lead on high-impact innovation.

Stardour’s work acts as a cornerstone in enabling services like in-space logistics, orbital transfers, and deep-space missions.

How did Stardour’s launch take place?

This critical test was carried out at a private facility in Hyderabad, Telangana, where the startup is headquartered.

The test was designed to evaluate the engine’s performance, combustion stability, ignition systems, and thrust levels using environmentally friendly hydrogen and oxygen propellants.

The test was conducted entirely in-house, with technical collaboration from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

Ground-based engine tests like this are essential precursors to future flight demonstrations and actual orbital missions.

Passing these tests demonstrates critical readiness in engine reliability, ignition control, and eco-friendly propulsion: key elements for their planned Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) “Lucas” slated for a 2027 flight demo.

Why is this special for India?

This achievement by Stardour is special for India because it marks a major milestone in the country’s journey from a satellite-launching nation to a key player in next-generation, sustainable space technology. For the first time, a private Indian startup has successfully developed and tested a hydrogen-oxygen propulsion engine—a clean, efficient technology that emits only water vapour, unlike traditional rocket fuels that produce harmful gases. This engine, built completely in-house and tested in Hyderabad, places India among a handful of nations with such advanced capability.

What makes it even more significant is the timing.

India’s space sector has been rapidly growing, with over 200 space startups emerging since the sector was opened to private players in 2020. In 2023, these startups raised a record $126 million in funding. However, 2024 saw a sharp 55% drop in funding due to global economic slowdowns.

Amid this downturn, Stardour’s successful test proves that Indian innovation can thrive even in challenging conditions.

Stardour’s work also supports India’s goal to increase its share in the global space economy, projected to grow from $8 billion today to $44 billion by 2033.

[Credits for header image: Telengana Today
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