OculloSpace Launched Experimental Sounding Rocket in Oman
The Karman X1 mission tested launch technology on a 10-kilometer flight, setting the stage for future suborbital rockets.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Space
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Singapore-based startup OculloSpace successfully flew its experimental two-stage sounding rocket, AZAD The Dreamer, from the Etlaq Spaceport in Oman. The maiden test, known as Karman X1, reached an altitude of 10 kilometers before the upper-stage parachute failed to deploy.
Why it matters
This flight marks a key development milestone in OculloSpace's ongoing effort to build suborbital launch capacity for commercial applications. The mission serves as a critical test for the startup’s homegrown rocket technology after two years of internal development.
The AZAD The Dreamer rocket measures 4.3 meters in length and weighs 26 kilograms, carrying a 1-kilogram experimental payload. While it achieved an altitude of 10 kilometers, the program is currently iterating toward the AZAD-2, which aims for 100 kilometers with a 5-kilogram capacity.
The players
OculloSpace
A Singapore-based space technology startup focused on developing self-funded launch vehicles and suborbital hardware.
Stellar Kinetics MCT
An engineering firm providing launch operations and technical support for aerospace development projects.
The details
The launch was conducted using engineering and operational support from Stellar Kinetics MCT. The two-stage vehicle uses a multistage propulsion architecture to gain altitude, though the mission experienced a mechanical fault where the upper-stage parachute, a recovery device used to return hardware to the surface, failed to deploy. International partners from Singapore, Australia, and Oman provided range safety support and specific payload materials for this experimental flight.
Timeline
March 30, 2026: OculloSpace launched its first satellite, DECIMALSAT-1.
October 1, 2026: The maiden flight of AZAD The Dreamer occurred.
October 9, 2026: Success of the Karman X1 flight was announced.
The Tech Race
This mission sits within a growing field of private sounding rocket programs aiming to provide low-cost access to the upper atmosphere and near-space. OculloSpace is currently iterating its designs to compete with established research rocket capabilities, targeting the 100-kilometer mark.
Future commercial or research users should monitor the development of the AZAD-2 rocket, which is intended to provide a 5-kilogram payload capacity. There is no currently announced timeline for the first flight of the AZAD-2 model.
The takeaway
The successful maiden flight of AZAD The Dreamer establishes a baseline for OculloSpace's technical capability despite the parachute recovery failure. Interested parties should watch for future flight data from the upcoming AZAD-2 program to see if the firm reaches the 100-kilometer target.
Further reading
For more on the competitive landscape of launch technology, visit Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Macau Business.
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