Tamil Nadu Startup Builds Reusable Rocket Engines at Home
A new space company in southern India just fired up its first reusable rocket engine, built entirely in a small coastal town. Cosmicport is tackling one of spaceflight's hardest problems to help launch the satellites India desperately needs.
India has more satellites waiting to launch than rockets to carry them, forcing operators to wait months or fly abroad instead.
Two engineers from Thoothukudi, a coastal town in Tamil Nadu, decided to change that. Naveen TS Velayudham and Liwaans Amuthan founded Cosmicport in 2023, building their rocket company at home rather than moving to an established aerospace hub.
Their timing was smart. Just 30 miles away, India is constructing its second spaceport designed specifically for small satellite launches.
Cosmicport isn't taking the easy path. While most Indian launch startups buy engines from suppliers, this team is designing its own from scratch.
They're building Cryonix, a methane-oxygen engine designed to fly multiple times instead of being thrown away after one use. Reusable engines are notoriously difficult to perfect, but they transform launch economics by slashing costs.
In July 2026, Cosmicport completed its first cryogenic ignition trial of the Cryonix engine at their own research facility. It was small and brief, but it proved their design could actually work in the real world.
The company plans to cluster nine of these engines together to power Mach Blue, a small rocket capable of carrying satellites to orbit. They're offering complete packages from engine to launch, rather than selling just one piece of the puzzle.
Their roadmap is ambitious. They want a qualified engine by late 2026, reusability tests in 2027, full stage qualification in 2028, and commercial launches by 2029.
The Ripple Effect
Cosmicport hasn't raised traditional venture funding yet. Instead, they've earned support through the AWS Space Accelerator, T-Hub, and Tamil Nadu's Vaanam space-tech accelerator, gaining mentorship and facilities.
They're also investing in the next generation. The founders run a space club at their old school in Thoothukudi, giving local students hands-on exposure to rocket technology and mentorship from working engineers.
An ISRO veteran with three decades of satellite experience, Prabhakar CA, now advises the team. His expertise bridges the gap between ambitious startup and proven spaceflight know-how.
India cracked rocket science decades ago with ISRO, but now comes the harder challenge of rocket economics.
More Images
Based on reporting by YourStory India
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity!
Share this good news with someone who needs it
