The world of rocket propulsion is about to get a significant boost, thanks to the innovative work being done by Venus Aerospace. The company has secured a whopping $90 million in Series B funding to further develop its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), an ultra-efficient engine that promises to revolutionize the way we launch rockets.
The RDRE is not new; it was first conceptualized in the mid-20th century as a theoretically more efficient way to launch rockets. However, the complex physics involved made it difficult to understand and control. Recent advancements in 3D printing and simulations have made it possible for companies like Venus Aerospace to bring this technology to life.
Venus Aerospace was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife duo Sassie Duggleby and Andrew Duggleby with the goal of developing clean-flying hypersonic jets for passenger travel. However, after successfully demonstrating the engine last year, their plans changed. The company is now focused on hypersonic weapons development, replacing solid rocket motors with its own thruster, and high-speed space vehicles that appeal to the military.
“What happened when we flew last May is the world looked at us and said, ‘oh my gosh, you have a working RDRE, would you sell us one?’ And that wasn’t what we were expecting,” Sassie Duggleby told TechCrunch. “Now, we’re focused on delivering this technology to our customers.”
The $90 million Series B funding round was led by Mercury Fund and saw participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures, MESH, PEAK6, Draper Associates, Starboard Star Venture Capital, and Green Sands Equity. The funds will be used to test and develop specific vehicle designs with potential customers.
Venus Aerospace’s RDRE works by creating a continual supersonic wave of combustion that rotates through a circular channel, wasting less propellant than traditional rocket engines. The company has already demonstrated the engine in various tests, including a 2025 launch where it successfully launched a rocket into flight for the first time.
However, there is still much work to be done before the RDRE can be used in real-world applications. The longest the engine has fired during 600 tests is 32 seconds, but it will likely need to burn for at least six to 15 minutes to meet the goals of its customers.
To address this challenge, Venus Aerospace was awarded a grant from the Texas Space Commission to build a new, larger test stand. This will be crucial in helping the company overcome the technical hurdles and deliver the RDRE to its customers.
The funding round is a significant vote of confidence in Venus Aerospace’s technology and its potential to revolutionize the rocket propulsion industry. With this investment, the company is well-positioned to make a major impact in the world of hypersonic weapons and space vehicles.
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