Skyroot Aerospace has unveiled India's first privately developed cryogenic engine, marking a significant step in the country's commercial space race.
An Indian space startup, Skyroot Aerospace, has unveiled its indigenously developed cryogenic engine Dhawan-I on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan who was a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organization's second Chairman. The cryogenic engine is meant to fuel the upper stage of their rocket Vikram-II.
The company has already tested a solid-fueled engine. But according to the company, the cryogenic engine is even more significant because of the extreme complexity in the technology and the handling of its fuels. It is revealed that the cryogenic engine would be powered by Liquid Natural gas as fuel (LNG) and Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer (LoX).
The LNG being used comprises over 90% methane gas which makes it a clean-burning, low-cost, and highly re-usable field. It is also well suited for long-duration space missions. As Business Insider India reported, the engine has been named after Satish Dhawan as a tribute to the visionary who transformed India's space ambitions into a global powerhouse.
According to the CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Kumar Chandana their team has successfully completed many tests to check the fuel flow and structural integrity. He also said that they were also building a dedicated test facility for hot fire testing of this engine.
The company is looking forward to a maiden launch of Vikram-I by December 2021. It has successfully tested the upper-most stage engine of its first rocket Vikram-I and its initial stage engines are being manufactured. The cryogenic engine is meant for their bigger rocket Vikram-II and would not see action in Vikram-I.
What makes this development particularly noteworthy is the broader context of India opening its space sector to private enterprise. For decades, ISRO operated as the sole custodian of the country's space ambitions. Now companies like Skyroot are stepping up to build commercial alternatives that could dramatically reduce launch costs for satellites and other payloads.
Vikram I is meant to lift 225 kg to 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 315 kg to 45º inclination 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in terms of payload capacity. Vikram II is designed for 410 kg to 500 km SSPO and 520 kg to 45º inclination 500km LEO. In the case of Vikram III, the company is looking at 580 kg to 500 km SSPO and 720 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO.
The payload progression across the three Vikram variants tells the story of a company thinking beyond a single launch. Each iteration scales up meaningfully, with Vikram III nearly tripling the LEO capacity of the first version. This kind of incremental ambition is what separates serious players from those simply chasing headlines.
Cryogenic engines have historically been among the most closely guarded technologies in aerospace. India itself faced significant hurdles in acquiring cryogenic technology during the 1990s due to international sanctions. The fact that a private startup is now developing one from scratch signals just how far the landscape has shifted.
Skyroot was founded by former ISRO scientists, which explains the technical confidence behind their roadmap. The team understands the regulatory environment, the engineering challenges, and the patience required to see a rocket from concept to launchpad. That lineage matters in an industry where most newcomers underestimate the time and capital involved.
As Forbes recently pointed out, the global small satellite launch market is projected to grow substantially over the next decade. Skyroot is positioning itself to capture a slice of that demand, particularly from customers in South and Southeast Asia who currently rely on foreign launch providers. A cheaper, locally built alternative could shift the dynamics considerably.
The choice of LNG as fuel also deserves attention. Methane-powered engines are gaining traction globally because they offer a balance between performance and reusability. SpaceX's Raptor engine uses a similar approach. If Skyroot can master this technology for Vikram-II, it could set the stage for reusable rocket stages that bring per-kilogram launch costs down even further.
For now, all eyes are on the Vikram-I launch scheduled for late 2021. A successful maiden flight would validate not just Skyroot's engineering but the entire thesis of private space enterprise in India. The Dhawan-I engine may be built for Vikram-II, but its existence sends a clear message about the company's long-term intentions. Skyroot is not just building rockets; it is building an indigenous capability that could reshape how the region accesses space.
