Venus Aerospace, founded in 2020, is a startup aerospace company based in Houston, Texas, focused on developing hypersonic aircraft and engine technology. The company is building the Stargazer, a hypersonic plane designed for rapid global travel, aiming to reduce travel times from Los Angeles to Tokyo to just one hour. Venus Aerospace is also developing a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) for use in both commercial and defense applications, partnering with organizations like NASA to test and advance its engine technology. Key focus areas include hypersonic flight, reusable technology, and advanced propulsion systems.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Venus Aerospace says its RDRE uses a continuous supersonic detonation wave that rotates around the combustion chamber.
Lockheed Martin Ventures, MESH, PEAK6, Draper Associates, Starboard Star Venture Capital, Green Sands Equity, Seraph Group, and Trousdale Ventures participated in Venus Aerospace’s Series B round.
Venus Aerospace says its RDRE has potential roles in munitions, space launch, orbital transfer, and lander missions.
Venus Aerospace completed its first successful flight test of a high-thrust rotating detonation rocket engine in May 2025.
Venus Aerospace says its RDRE is reusable and throttleable.
Venus Aerospace says its RDRE has an efficiency gain of about 15 percent over traditional rocket engine designs.
Venus Aerospace appointed former NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy to its board of directors.
Venus Aerospace is building its engines in Texas with U.S. engineering talent for customers seeking sovereign propulsion capability.
Houston-based Mercury Fund led Venus Aerospace’s Series B round.
Venus Aerospace closed a $91 million Series B funding round.
Venus Aerospace’s RDRE is built from 3D-printed components and standard materials.
Venus Aerospace completed the world’s first flight test of a high-thrust rotating detonation engine in May 2025 using 80 million dollars in capital.
Venus Aerospace is developing its high-thrust rotating detonation rocket engine into full propulsion systems for defense and space customers.
In May 2025, Venus Aerospace became the first U.S. company to complete a successful test flight of a rotating detonation rocket engine-powered rocket.
Venus Aerospace aims to land one major weapons contract and one major space contract for its engine.
Venus Aerospace is focusing on an engine architecture that can serve both defense and commercial space missions.
Venus Aerospace plans to use the new capital to grow its team, invest in larger production capabilities, and fund follow-on demonstration flights.
Mercury Fund led Venus Aerospace’s $91 million Series B round.
Venus Aerospace’s rotating detonation rocket engine can throttle its thrust.
Venus Aerospace’s rotating detonation rocket engine uses a liquid propellant made of JP-10 and hydrogen peroxide.