We have heard that countries like the United States, China, and India have built rockets and launched them into space.

Some young engineers and researchers from Nepal have also achieved some success in this field. They have built a hybrid rocket and have already conducted ground tests. However, there is a lack of legal provisions for its launch.

In one corner of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Maker Space, young engineers and researchers have been continuously working on this for two years. Their goal is to build a rocket and successfully test it.

This is the first hybrid rocket built in Nepal by Mac-24 Orbitals in collaboration with NAST. That is, this rocket has been built using modern technology with commercial use in mind. In fact, Mac-24 Orbitals has already successfully tested more than two dozen small rockets before this. However, continuous work on the hybrid rocket developed now has been ongoing since 2024.

Although this rocket has already undergone 55 ground tests, due to the lack of clear legal provisions regarding rocket testing, they are facing various administrative and technical hassles even for flight tests up to one kilometer.

Mac-24 Orbitals founder Mohan Tamang said that the process of obtaining permission is underway. “We have already conducted ground tests. The engine works. But the entire rocket system can only be tested after the rocket has flown. We are waiting for permission for the flight test,” he said. “To launch above one hundred kilometers from Nepal, the consent of other countries and agencies is also required.”

Mac-24 Orbitals plans to fly the rocket about one kilometer in the first phase. After that, they aim to conduct test flights up to 20 kilometers and, in the long term, to develop rockets capable of reaching space. However, there are budget constraints and legal issues. So far, about 3 million rupees have been spent on developing the hybrid rocket system.

To launch above one hundred kilometers from Nepal, the consent of other countries and agencies is also required. “From one to ten kilometers, it can be done with the permission of the Nepali Army or security agencies. But to send it above one hundred kilometers into space, international agencies’ permission is also needed,” said Hari Ram Shrestha, head of NAST’s Space Research Center. “To launch it, we need a large area or a place like the sea. Therefore, it is a bit difficult in Nepal.”