Lux Aeterna

Lux Aeterna is building the world’s first reusable satellite platform to transform the future of space operations.

Created: 2025-08-02

Updated: 2025-09-06

Company - Lux Aeterna

Founded
Country
2024
USA
Funding
$4M
Website
https://www.luxaeterna.com/
Social
Lux Aeterna

Product/Service

Classification
Cargo Transportation & Landers
Category
Reusable Satellite
Returnable Satellite
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Fields
Space Capsule
Reusable
Status
Development
First launch
2027

Our mission is to make space operations as routine and sustainable as rocket launches have become by creating the first truly reusable satellite platform.

The Problem

The space industry faces two fundamental barriers that limit innovation and operational capability.
First, space operations are a one-way street. While operators can readily launch payloads to orbit, returning materials to Earth remains an exceptional event rather than a routine service. This limitation cuts off entire categories of missions that require payload recovery, analysis, and iteration.
Second, satellites are built for single use. Despite heavy investment in cost optimization, the industry treats sophisticated satellite platforms as consumables. This approach fundamentally limits innovation where it matters most: the payloads themselves.
The satellite bus market alone represents $45B annually, with SpaceX having already demonstrated that reusability can dramatically reduce costs while accelerating innovation through more frequent launches and experimental missions.
Our defense partners tell us that return capability represents a significant portion of the space industry's future growth in areas such as secure technology demonstration and sensitive payload recovery. Commercial operators struggle with supply chain bottlenecks where radiation-hardened electronics and specialized materials often have 12+ month lead times, causing program-wide schedule slips. By solving both challenges, Lux Aeterna will not only reduce costs but more importantly unlock entirely new mission profiles and revenue streams for our customers that are impossible with today's single-use architecture.

Our Solution

Our first vehicle, Delphi, represents a paradigm shift in how we think about space operations. By separating the mature, stable satellite bus infrastructure from rapidly evolving payloads, we're creating a fleet-based architecture that mirrors the transformation SpaceX brought to launch vehicles. Delphi will be the world's first satellite to fly twice. Our next vehicle will be designed for high cadence reuse.
The key innovation lies in treating satellites as reusable platforms rather than disposable hardware. This approach unlocks immediate benefits: customers can iterate on payload designs between missions, failed experiments don't result in total loss, and the cost of access to space drops dramatically when you're not rebuilding the entire vehicle each time.
Most importantly, by enabling routine return from orbit, something that was previously impossible, we close the loop on space operations. Defense organizations and commercial customers can finally deploy, operate, retrieve, analyze, and iterate at speeds that match modern operational tempos. Whether it's classified sensors requiring secure chain-of-custody, experimental payloads needing rapid iteration, or advanced materials processing, payloads can come back to Earth as easily as they went up.
Lux Aeterna’s approach is grounded in the recognition that market demand for downmass and reusable satellite infrastructure is not just emerging, but here today. One application area, the In-Space Manufacturing sector, is a $4.4B (growing to $21.8B) market alone. This is why we are actively collaborating with other industry leaders to co-develop a market-focused framework that prioritizes customer flexibility, mission diversity, and operational choice in this expanding sector.

Market Applications

Reusable satellite platforms enable entirely new mission profiles across both defense and commercial sectors. These applications fall into three categories that were previously impossible or prohibitively expensive:

Secure Recovery & Analysis

  • Defense technology demonstration: Deploy experimental payloads with guaranteed retrieval for post-mission analysis
  • Classified materials testing: Test sensitive components in the space environment with assured return and secure chain-of-custody
  • Adversary technology recovery: Secure recovery of debris or technology for forensic analysis
  • Commercial R&D: Pharmaceutical and materials research requiring sample return for analysis

Rapid Iteration of Payload Technology

  • In-Space Manufacturing: Test production processes in microgravity with rapid iteration cycles
  • Technology refresh: Continuous upgrading of earth observation and communications capabilities
  • Mission adaptation: Real-time reconfiguration of payloads based on changing operational requirements
  • Startup acceleration: Affordable space testing for emerging technology companies

Fleet-Enabled Operations

  • Persistent presence: Maintain continuous coverage while upgrading individual assets
  • Surge capacity: Rapidly scale operations by adding assets to existing fleet
  • Supply chain independence: Eliminate component lead times through fleet-based maintenance
  • Risk mitigation: Distribute mission-critical capabilities across multiple recoverable platforms
    We've heard from defense partners that these capabilities would fundamentally change their approach to space-based operations, enabling persistent presence with continuous technology refresh and ability to change the mission set. One partner emphasized how secure payload recovery enables missions they simply couldn't consider with traditional satellites.

Technical Approach

Our reusable satellite platform integrates proven aerospace technologies with innovative design to achieve reliable, cost-effective orbital operations. The core challenge lies in balancing the thermal and structural demands of reentry with the need for rapid refurbishment and payload integration.
For our demonstration mission, we're leveraging NASA heritage heat shield technology. This proven design minimizes risk on the highest-risk component of our first flight. The heat shield serves dual duty as both the satellite's primary structure and thermal protection system, eliminating the complexity and mass penalties of traditional designs while enabling routine atmospheric reentry.
In parallel, we're developing our own proprietary reusable heat shield technology for our next vehicle, designed for 15 years on orbit or 15 reentry cycles. This represents the long-term sustainable solution that will enable true fleet operations at scale.
Our engineering philosophy follows the modern space industry's proven approach: build hardware early and test often. While traditional aerospace relied on extensive analysis before touching hardware, rapid prototyping and iterative testing produces more reliable systems faster and at lower costs. We've budgeted for multiple iterations, knowing that learning through hardware is the most effective path to a reliable system.

Economics & Fleet Operations

The economics improve dramatically as launch costs continue to fall. At current Falcon 9 rideshare pricing, we can reduce overall mission cost by 40%. With projected Starship pricing, this increases to a 70% cost savings over disposable satellites.
But more than cost savings, our fleet-based approach fundamentally transforms the operational constraints that limit space missions today:
Supply Chain Independence: With broad experience across the satellite industry, we've experienced supply chain frustrations firsthand. Our customers consistently tell us that schedule uncertainty is one of their biggest pain points. Rather than building each satellite from scratch, we maintain an operational fleet that cycles through missions. Mission readiness depends on fleet availability, not component lead times. When the entire industry faces a propulsion system shortage or solar cell shortage, our customers aren't affected—we simply refurbish and re-fly existing assets.
Operational Speed: Critical subsystems (solar arrays, propulsion, avionics) are already integrated and flight-proven. Customers can focus on payload development, knowing platform availability is governed by a predictable maintenance schedule rather than variable component deliveries.
Strategic Inventory Management: Spares inventory is managed based on fleet-wide maintenance data, not individual builds. This shift from serial manufacturing to fleet operations aligns with proven aerospace practices while eliminating traditional satellite supply chain constraints.

Looking Ahead

Our long-term vision is a constellation of hundreds of reusable satellites in regular rotation between launch, orbit, reentry, and refurbishment. Picture a circular fleet where satellites continuously cycle through missions, with payloads swapped out during ground processing. This isn't just an incremental improvement, it's a fundamental reimagining of how space infrastructure operates.
This fleet model enables unprecedented flexibility and scale. Need to increase capacity? Add satellites to the fleet off critical path. Want to upgrade capabilities? Implement improvements during routine refurbishment. Experience a payload anomaly? Bring it down immediately without losing the entire satellite investment.
By making satellites reusable assets rather than consumables, we're removing barriers and enabling a true space economy where access to orbit becomes a strategic advantage rather than a logistical constraint. The future of space operations demands sustainable, reusable infrastructure. That's what we're building.

Notes

Similar Organizations

Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

ALATYR (ASTROLAB)

Development

SpaceDrone

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

BlackStar Orbital Technologies

Early stage

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

EARS Project (European Advanced Reusable Satellite)

Concept, Development

FSW

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite

FSW China Recoverable Satellites (Guangmei, Shijian 19, SJ 8, Sj 10, China Academy of Space Technology))

Demonstrated

On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics, Consulting Service

Growbotics Space

Cancelled, Early stage

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Inbound Aerospace

Development

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm

SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB)

Cancelled, Acquired

Orbital Transportation, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Reusable Satellite, Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), In-Orbit Inspection

Orbital Operations

Development

Kestrel

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Orbital Paradigm

Development

ENOS

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Reditus Space

Development

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Serendipity Space

Development

Black Bay

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite

SpaceRyde

Dormant, Bankrupt

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

Taramandal

Dormant

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Recoverable Satellite, Reusable Satellite

Varda Space Industries

Active

FSW

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite

FSW China Recoverable Satellites (Guangmei, Shijian 19, SJ 8, Sj 10, China Academy of Space Technology))

Demonstrated

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Inbound Aerospace

Development

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Serendipity Space

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Workspaces

A-SpaX (Affordable Space Access)

Cancelled, Development

Commercial Sample Return, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Agile Space Industries

Concept, Dormant

Asteroid Mining Spacecraft

Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

AMi Exploration (ARCA Space, Asteroid Mining Program)

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Point-to-point

Anduril Industries

Concept

Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Point-to-point

ATMOS Space Cargo

Development, Launched

HaoLong

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute

Development

B300, DEAR-3, DEAR-5, C2000

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

AZSpace (Ziwei Technology, Ziwei Yutong Keji YG)

Demonstrated

SpaceDrone

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

BlackStar Orbital Technologies

Early stage

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Point-to-point

Blue Origin

Concept

QingZhou

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

CAS Space (Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, IAMCAS)

Development

ReX, Cosmotron

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Catalyx space (Space Rickshaw)

Development, Launched

Mk-II Aurora, Mk-III

Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Suborbital Testbed

Dawn Aerospace

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

DEIMOS Engineering and Systems

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Downmass

Dormant

Back From Space (BFS)

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

e.Nova Aerospace

Early stage

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

EARS Project (European Advanced Reusable Satellite)

Concept, Development

ELS-R, ELS-RS

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

ElevationSpace

Development

Foton Spacecraft

Foton

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Foton (Photon)

Retired

GEN

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads

Genesis Space Flight Laboratories (Genesis SFL, Genoplant)

Development

GTL

Hyperion

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

GTL (Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories)

Early stage

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

HStar Space Transport

Early stage

Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics

In Orbit Aerospace

Development

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Inbound Aerospace

Development

MERCAP

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Independence-X

Early stage

Interspace Explore

ZengZhang

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Interspace Explore (i-Space, Interstellar Glory, Beijing Interstellar Development Technology)

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company

Interstellar Space Technologies

Early stage

Zephyr, URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Intuitive Machines

Development

Ray, Arc

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Inversion Space

Development, Launched

HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

Demonstrated

In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

LEAP

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), On-Orbit Servicing, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), In-Space Logistics

Logispace

Early stage

VBK-Raduga

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

MKB Raduga (Raduga Design Bureau)

Dormant, Discontinued

Glide2

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Hardware

NewSpace Systems

Development

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Orbital Bridge

Early stage

Kestrel

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Orbital Paradigm

Development

Ferry, Cargo Ferry, Carryall

In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Outpost Space

Development, Launched

Space Truck

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Orbital Transportation

Plasmos

Cancelled, Development

Olympus, Pythom Spaceship

Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Space Station

Pythom

Early stage

Radian One

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Radian Aerospace

Development

Radian Reusable Reentry Vehicle (R3V)

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Radian Aerospace

Development

LASER (Lunar Ascent Sample Earth Return)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Sample Return

RadioBro

Idea, Dormant

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Raven Dynamics

Early stage

In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Raven Space Systems

Cancelled

ENOS

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Reditus Space

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing

Reenter Space (Reentry Systems)

Dormant, Early stage

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

ReOrbital

Development, ?

ARGO

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA)

Concept, Development

ARGO

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

RTSS (Reusable Vehicles Space Systems, MKTC)

Dormant, Early stage

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Serendipity Space

Development

Oryx, Mini Space Brake (MSB)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Water, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)

Shackleton Energy

Dormant

Meteoroid Complementary Descent Module, ASTREO

Space Tug, Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Logistics

Sidereus Space Dynamics

Concept

Dream Chaser, Shooting Star

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Sierra Space (Sierra Nevada Corp, SNC)

Development

Ghost

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Sierra Space (Sierra Nevada Corp, SNC)

Development

REV1

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Space Cargo Unlimited

Development

Space Elevator, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Space Elevator Development Corporation (SEDevCo)

Early stage

ForgeStar, Aether

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Space Forge

Development, Launched

RED-25, RED-DATA2, RED-XR

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

SpaceWorks Enterprises (Terminal Velocity)

Launched, Demonstrated, Development

Starship, Starship HLS, Starship Human Landing System

Human Landing System, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Point-to-point

SpaceX

Development, Launched

Dragon, Dragon 2, Cargo Dragon

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

SpaceX

Active

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Point-to-point

Stoke Space

Development

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Space Tourism Activities, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

t/Space (Transformational Space Corporation)

Dormant

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

Taramandal

Dormant

Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Thales Alenia Space

Development

Nyx

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

The Exploration Company

Development, Launched

The Fairchild Space Company

Commercial Space Station, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

The Fairchild Space Company

Dormant, Cancelled

VSI-LAB

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Vanguard Space Industries

Early stage, Cancelled

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Recoverable Satellite, Reusable Satellite

Varda Space Industries

Active

SpaceCase, SC-X01

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Way4Space (ArianeGroup)

Development, Launched

Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

ALATYR (ASTROLAB)

Development

Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Point-to-point

ATMOS Space Cargo

Development, Launched

SpaceDrone

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

BlackStar Orbital Technologies

Early stage

Commercial Cargo Spacelines

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Commercial Cargo Spacelines

Dormant

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Downmass

Dormant

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

EARS Project (European Advanced Reusable Satellite)

Concept, Development

ELS-R, ELS-RS

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

ElevationSpace

Development

FSW

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite

FSW China Recoverable Satellites (Guangmei, Shijian 19, SJ 8, Sj 10, China Academy of Space Technology))

Demonstrated

On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics, Consulting Service

Growbotics Space

Cancelled, Early stage

Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics

In Orbit Aerospace

Development

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Inbound Aerospace

Development

MERCAP

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Independence-X

Early stage

Interspace Explore

ZengZhang

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Interspace Explore (i-Space, Interstellar Glory, Beijing Interstellar Development Technology)

Development

Zephyr, URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Intuitive Machines

Development

Ray, Arc

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Inversion Space

Development, Launched

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm

SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB)

Cancelled, Acquired

Orbital Transportation, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Reusable Satellite, Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), In-Orbit Inspection

Orbital Operations

Development

Kestrel

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Orbital Paradigm

Development

Radian One

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Radian Aerospace

Development

Skylon

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Reaction Engines

Cancelled, Concept

ENOS

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Reditus Space

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing

Reenter Space (Reentry Systems)

Dormant, Early stage

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

ReOrbital

Development, ?

ARGO

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA)

Concept, Development

Rocket Pi

Commercial Space Station, In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Research Payloads

Rocket Pi (Rocket π, Beijing) Aerospace Science and Technology, Huojian Pi)

Development, Launched

Reusable Satellite, Returnable Satellite, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Serendipity Space

Development

Dream Chaser, Shooting Star

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Sierra Space (Sierra Nevada Corp, SNC)

Development

Ghost

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Sierra Space (Sierra Nevada Corp, SNC)

Development

REV1

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Space Cargo Unlimited

Development

ForgeStar, Aether

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Space Forge

Development, Launched

Space Rider

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Space Rider (ESA)

Development

TangoLab, CubeLabs, Mambo

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Space Tango

Active

ST-42

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Space Tango

Cancelled, ?

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

SpaceLocker

Demonstrated

Black Bay

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite

SpaceRyde

Dormant, Bankrupt

DragonLab

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

SpaceX

Dormant

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing, Orbital Transportation, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)

Starflight Dynamics

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Point-to-point

Stoke Space

Development

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

Taramandal

Dormant

Nyx

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

The Exploration Company

Development, Launched

VSI-LAB

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Vanguard Space Industries

Early stage, Cancelled

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Recoverable Satellite, Reusable Satellite

Varda Space Industries

Active

SpaceCase, SC-X01

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Way4Space (ArianeGroup)

Development, Launched