A Bengaluru startup built and test-fired a 5 kN reusable cryogenic engine in under three months, with a VTVL hopper launch planned for later this year.
From Discord to Test Stand
Othisis Systems started as a rocketry Discord community run by Syed Affan, an undergraduate student in Bengaluru. Two years later, that same team successfully hot-fired a fully 3D-printed cryogenic rocket engine.
The Engine in Numbers
The 5 kN engine runs on liquid oxygen and methane. It produces a total impulse of 100 kN per second and uses regenerative cooling, where propellant flows through channels around the combustion chamber before injection. The chamber operates at 35 bar pressure.
Why 3D Printing Matters Here
Conventional cryogenic engines require complex machining, long lead times, and careful assembly of multiple components. Othisis printed the entire engine as a single build, which shortened the production timeline and allowed the team to iterate quickly after failed ignition attempts.
The startup went through three failed ignitions before achieving a sustained burn. Each failure gave the team data to adjust the injector geometry and control firmware.
What Is Next
The engine is designed for a reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing rocket. Othisis plans to integrate it into a VTVL hopper for flight tests later this year. The company has already signed memorandums of understanding to carry payloads and is registered with IN-SPACe, India's space promotion agency.
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