New and recently funded Space Startups
1
Country: USA | Funding: $925.5M
K2 Space specializes in building large satellites that serve as platforms for multiple third-party modules. These satellites became possible with the advent of large launch vehicles like the Falcon 9. Their advantage is high reliability and lower launch/servicing costs for each individual module. This is important for commercial, scientific and defense applications. The company's first satellite, K2 Mega (scheduled for launch in 2026), can carry a payload of up to one ton. It' designed for multi-orbit operations, protected from the harshest conditions of the solar system and is engineered with redundancy and reliability techniques historically reserved for crewed spacecraft like Dragon and the Space Shuttle. Its $15 million cost was achieved through the development of new systems, such as power supply, attitude control, thermal management.
K2 Space specializes in building large satellites that serve as platforms for multiple third-party modules. These satellites became possible with the advent of large launch vehicles like the Falcon 9. Their advantage is high reliability and lower launch/servicing costs for each individual module. This is important for commercial, scientific and defense applications. The company's first satellite, K2 Mega (scheduled for launch in 2026), can carry a payload of up to one ton. It' designed for multi-orbit operations, protected from the harshest conditions of the solar system and is engineered with redundancy and reliability techniques historically reserved for crewed spacecraft like Dragon and the Space Shuttle. Its $15 million cost was achieved through the development of new systems, such as power supply, attitude control, thermal management.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $5M
Orbital aims to develop a system comprising thousands of space-based data centers focused on AI inferencing. Orbital is working on a satellite-based data center platform focused on AI inferencing that, if all goes to plan, will eventually scale up to about 10,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Its first space-based test is slated for 2027.
Orbital aims to develop a system comprising thousands of space-based data centers focused on AI inferencing. Orbital is working on a satellite-based data center platform focused on AI inferencing that, if all goes to plan, will eventually scale up to about 10,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Its first space-based test is slated for 2027.
3
Country: USA | Funding: $134M
Venus Aerospace has developed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) which is theoretically more efficient way to launch rockets. Instead of burning propellants in a round chamber, the engine creates a continual supersonic wave of combustion that rotates through a circular channel. It allows to waste less propellant. Now, the company is focused on hypersonic weapons development, replacing the solid rocket motors that power many missiles with its own thruster, and high-speed space vehicles that appeal to the military.
Venus Aerospace has developed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) which is theoretically more efficient way to launch rockets. Instead of burning propellants in a round chamber, the engine creates a continual supersonic wave of combustion that rotates through a circular channel. It allows to waste less propellant. Now, the company is focused on hypersonic weapons development, replacing the solid rocket motors that power many missiles with its own thruster, and high-speed space vehicles that appeal to the military.
4
Country: Uruguay | Funding: $578.8M
Satellogic is democratizing access to space data by significantly lowering barriers to obtaining real-time satellite access. It is a vertically integrated geospatial company that manages its own constellation of low-orbit satellites. Satellogic has developed and produces a more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective platform for observation satellites and offers clients both data access and satellite leasing. Vertical integration across all stages—design, production, and operations—allows the company to reduce intermediary costs.
Satellogic is democratizing access to space data by significantly lowering barriers to obtaining real-time satellite access. It is a vertically integrated geospatial company that manages its own constellation of low-orbit satellites. Satellogic has developed and produces a more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective platform for observation satellites and offers clients both data access and satellite leasing. Vertical integration across all stages—design, production, and operations—allows the company to reduce intermediary costs.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $185.4M
Blue Origin is an aerospace company that focuses on lowering the cost of spaceflight and helping to explore the solar system.
Blue Origin is an aerospace company that focuses on lowering the cost of spaceflight and helping to explore the solar system.
6
Country: UK | Funding: $1.7B
Virgin Galactic is Richard Branson's company that develops commercial spacecraft and offers suborbital spaceflights to space tourists. Its spacecraft are launched from the air from beneath a carrier aircraft. After launch, the spacecraft travels another hundred kilometers, providing tourists with a weightless experience for several minutes. At the end of the flight, the capsule carrying the tourists descends via parachute. The company has already completed dozens of successful launches. A ticket for a space tourist costs approximately $750,000.
Virgin Galactic is Richard Branson's company that develops commercial spacecraft and offers suborbital spaceflights to space tourists. Its spacecraft are launched from the air from beneath a carrier aircraft. After launch, the spacecraft travels another hundred kilometers, providing tourists with a weightless experience for several minutes. At the end of the flight, the capsule carrying the tourists descends via parachute. The company has already completed dozens of successful launches. A ticket for a space tourist costs approximately $750,000.
7
Country: India | Funding: $8M
PierSight is building application-specific SAR systems. Application-specific means serving the needs of an application(maritime/land/forest) with one system at a time. This approach delivers superior intelligence at a fraction of traditional costs. Some of the systems are: Varuna (32 Satellite Constellation, using SAR fused with AIS, for persistent maritime surveillance), Vidura (SAR payload that can be mounted on drones, built for foliage penetration), Sanjay (High-resolution SAR satellites built for terrestrial imaging), MATSYA (Maritime Analytics & Tracking System using AI)
PierSight is building application-specific SAR systems. Application-specific means serving the needs of an application(maritime/land/forest) with one system at a time. This approach delivers superior intelligence at a fraction of traditional costs. Some of the systems are: Varuna (32 Satellite Constellation, using SAR fused with AIS, for persistent maritime surveillance), Vidura (SAR payload that can be mounted on drones, built for foliage penetration), Sanjay (High-resolution SAR satellites built for terrestrial imaging), MATSYA (Maritime Analytics & Tracking System using AI)
8
Country: USA | Funding: $2.2B
Sierra Space implements complex space projects, including satellite missions (using its own small, high-performance, and affordable satellites for in-orbit servicing) and space stations. The company also develops new technologies and systems for spacecraft, including solar-powered electrical systems, surface-mount technology to significantly reduce space power supply lead times, hypersonic engines and life support systems. Sierra's most famous product is the reusable Dream Chaser spacecraft, designed to deliver cargo and crew to and from the station. It is the only commercial spaceplane capable of takeoff and landing.
Sierra Space implements complex space projects, including satellite missions (using its own small, high-performance, and affordable satellites for in-orbit servicing) and space stations. The company also develops new technologies and systems for spacecraft, including solar-powered electrical systems, surface-mount technology to significantly reduce space power supply lead times, hypersonic engines and life support systems. Sierra's most famous product is the reusable Dream Chaser spacecraft, designed to deliver cargo and crew to and from the station. It is the only commercial spaceplane capable of takeoff and landing.
9
Country: South Korea | Funding: ₩58.5B
Unastella operates its own launch vehicles to provide human space travel platform services.
Unastella operates its own launch vehicles to provide human space travel platform services.
10
Country: USA | Funding: $722M
Apex develops small satellite platforms for commercial and government customers. Its productized bus platform improves reliability, reduces costs and accelerates manufacturing at constellation scale, while built-in customization allows you to easily adapt an existing platform to your mission's specific requirements. The company also provides comprehensive space mission management services, from spacecraft analysis to payload integration and on-orbit commissioning.
Apex develops small satellite platforms for commercial and government customers. Its productized bus platform improves reliability, reduces costs and accelerates manufacturing at constellation scale, while built-in customization allows you to easily adapt an existing platform to your mission's specific requirements. The company also provides comprehensive space mission management services, from spacecraft analysis to payload integration and on-orbit commissioning.
