Top 8 Space startups in El Segundo
1
Funding: $5M
Charter Space is building the platform that will help the space economy scale safely and sustainably. It works at the intersection of two enormous opportunities: the rapid growth of the commercial space economy and the need for a modern approach to understanding and insuring the increasingly complex risks that accompany that growth. The company is servicing dozens companies across the U.S. space and defense industrial base
Charter Space is building the platform that will help the space economy scale safely and sustainably. It works at the intersection of two enormous opportunities: the rapid growth of the commercial space economy and the need for a modern approach to understanding and insuring the increasingly complex risks that accompany that growth. The company is servicing dozens companies across the U.S. space and defense industrial base
2
Funding: $1.3B
Impulse Space develops orbital maneuvering vehicles for last-mile satellites and other cargo delivery. The startup was founded by SpaceX's first employee and its former propulsion chief, Tom Mueller.
Impulse Space develops orbital maneuvering vehicles for last-mile satellites and other cargo delivery. The startup was founded by SpaceX's first employee and its former propulsion chief, Tom Mueller.
3
Funding: $650M
Vast is a pioneer in space habitation technologies focused on expanding humanity across the solar system. NASA selected Vast to conduct private astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2027.
Vast is a pioneer in space habitation technologies focused on expanding humanity across the solar system. NASA selected Vast to conduct private astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2027.
4
Funding: $479M
ABL Space Systems specializes in building rockets to launch satellites.
ABL Space Systems specializes in building rockets to launch satellites.
5
Funding: $195.6M
Pixxel is developing and operating satellite constellation Firefly for high-resolution hyperspectral imaging to offer its customers AI-powered analytics to address challenges in such industries as agriculture, energy, mining, climate research, and environmental protection. All six Firefly satellites were successfully launched in 2025 and are now operating in orbit, capturing high-fidelity spectral data. The company develops and manufactures cutting-edge hyperspectral satellites and the AI platform Aurora for transforming raw imagery into valuable analytics. It's a no-code platform includes growing library of ready-to-use models and indices makes exploration and application easier.
Pixxel is developing and operating satellite constellation Firefly for high-resolution hyperspectral imaging to offer its customers AI-powered analytics to address challenges in such industries as agriculture, energy, mining, climate research, and environmental protection. All six Firefly satellites were successfully launched in 2025 and are now operating in orbit, capturing high-fidelity spectral data. The company develops and manufactures cutting-edge hyperspectral satellites and the AI platform Aurora for transforming raw imagery into valuable analytics. It's a no-code platform includes growing library of ready-to-use models and indices makes exploration and application easier.
6
Millennium Space Systems, a provider of agile, flight-proven small-satellite solutions. Acquired by Boeing
7
Funding: $12M
Matter Intelligence is a remote sensing company that makes sensors that use hyperspectral imaging.
Matter Intelligence is a remote sensing company that makes sensors that use hyperspectral imaging.
8
Funding: $9.9M
General Galactic is developing water-powered space propulsion systems. The core of this system is electrolyzer, which splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, then converts the oxygen into plasma. The system then uses a magnetic field to extract the plasma from the engine. In the case of chemical propulsion, electrolysis is followed by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen as an oxidizer. Electric propulsion is designed to provide a constant flow of thrust, which could prove effective for reaching deep space targets like Mars. Chemical propulsion, on the other hand, can provide much more powerful but short-lived pulses of thrust, allowing satellites to accelerate in space. General Galactic plans to launch its first 500-kilogram satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. In space, the satellite will demonstrate the two types of water engines.
General Galactic is developing water-powered space propulsion systems. The core of this system is electrolyzer, which splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, then converts the oxygen into plasma. The system then uses a magnetic field to extract the plasma from the engine. In the case of chemical propulsion, electrolysis is followed by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen as an oxidizer. Electric propulsion is designed to provide a constant flow of thrust, which could prove effective for reaching deep space targets like Mars. Chemical propulsion, on the other hand, can provide much more powerful but short-lived pulses of thrust, allowing satellites to accelerate in space. General Galactic plans to launch its first 500-kilogram satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. In space, the satellite will demonstrate the two types of water engines.
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