Astrophel’s Cryogenic Pump Spins India Into the Global Space Race

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  Astrophel Aerospace tests its indigenously developed cryogenic pump at ISRO, aiming to upgrade it into a turbopump for the Astra C1 rocket by 2026.
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  Startup is signing an MoU with a US partner and exploring global collaborations for exports across space and cryogenic fuel industries.
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  The milestone strengthens India’s $44B space economy goal, showcasing frugal engineering and private innovation in advanced propulsion.

Pune-based spacetech startup Astrophel Aerospace has taken a major step forward in rocket propulsion technology by testing its indigenously developed cryogenic pump at ISRO facilities. Once validated, the pump will be upgraded into a turbopump and integrated into the startup’s upcoming rocket engine, the Astra C1, by late 2026.

This makes Astrophel one of the first private Indian space startups to build an in-house cryogenic pump an achievement that could strengthen India’s growing role in the global space sector.

Astrophel is also finalising an MoU with a US-based partner and exploring more global collaborations. The company aims to supply its hardware not only to the space sector but also to industries like oil and gas, which work with cryogenic fuels. A turbopump, unlike other methods, draws power directly from the rocket engine, reducing dependency on external batteries. This makes it a sustainable, reusable, and cost-efficient solution for future space missions.

“This milestone is a testament to how India can indigenously develop advanced propulsion technologies at a fraction of global costs”, said Suyash Bafna, Co-Founder of Astrophel Aerospace. “ISRO’s certification will validate not just our pump, but India’s ability to innovate world-class space hardware with global export opportunities”, he added.

The cryogenic pump itself is a complex system of 50+ engineered components that spins at 25,000 RPM to deliver cryogenic fuel. It will eventually power both the first and second stages of Astrophel’s rockets. For comparison, an SSLV launch requires at least 8–9 turbopumps just for its first-stage liftoff.

Though only the size of a one-litre bottle, the pump generates 100–150 horsepower, similar to that of a family car. When upgraded to a turbopump, it will produce 500–600 horsepower, enough for larger launch vehicles. Acting as the ‘heart of the rocket’, the turbopump ensures efficient thrust control while keeping material and launch costs lower.

Astrophel’s approach is also different from other startups working on 3D-printed electric pumps. By borrowing lean manufacturing principles from the auto sector, the company is focusing on frugal engineering, fast assembly, and scalable production.

Co-Founder Immanuel Louis called the development a stepping stone, “This milestone represents the culmination of years of frugal engineering and is a stepping stone toward India’s first privately developed gas generator cycle”.

The announcement comes as India eyes a rapid expansion of its space economy, projected to grow from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033, aiming for an 8% global share. With more than 250 startups already active, propulsion breakthroughs like Astrophel’s cryo-pump will be key to achieving this vision. 

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