Venus Aerospace Raises $91M to Advance Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines (RDREs)

Venus Aerospace has raised $91 million in a Series B financing round led by Mercury Fund, with participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures, Mesh, PEAK6, Draper Associates, Starboard Star Venture Capital, Green Sands Equity, Seraph Group, Trousdale Ventures, and other new and existing investors.

The company said the funding will support development and production of its rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) technology, following a successful high-thrust flight test in May 2025.

Unlike conventional rocket engines, Venus' RDRE uses a continuous supersonic detonation wave rather than subsonic combustion.

The company says the architecture offers improved efficiency, which could translate into greater range, higher payload flexibility, and better performance for missions where propulsion margins are important.

The company is developing a reusable and throttleable propulsion architecture intended to support a range of applications, including munitions, space launch, orbital transfer, and landers.

Venus also said the engine is designed for domestic manufacturing at scale using 3D-printed components and standard materials.

CEO and co-founder Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby said the financing will help move Venus from breakthrough demonstration to scaled capability for customers that need reliable propulsion built on trusted supply chains.

Mercury Fund co-founder Blair Garrou said the firm sees the company as a Texas-based example of frontier technology with both commercial and national security relevance.

Lockheed Martin Ventures also highlighted Venus' progress since its initial investment. Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, said the company has advanced quickly and is focused on manufacturability, cost control, and supply chain resilience.

Image Credits: Venus Aerospace