Venus Aerospace's rotating detonation rocket engine
WASHINGTON — Venus Aerospace, a Houston-based propulsion startup developing rocket engines for hypersonic flight and space transportation, said July 8 it raised $91 million in a Series B funding round to expand development and production of its rotating detonation rocket engine technology.
The financing was led by Houston-based venture capital firm Mercury Fund, with participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures, MESH, PEAK6, Draper Associates, Starboard Star Venture Capital, Green Sands Equity and other new and existing strategic and institutional investors.
The company said the new capital will fund engine development and manufacturing as it seeks to scale production of its rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) from flight testing toward operational deployment.
An RDRE generates thrust using a continuously rotating detonation wave rather than conventional combustion, a design that could improve engine efficiency and performance for applications ranging from hypersonic vehicles to space transportation.
