Venus Aerospace Raises $90M in Series B Funding to Advance Cutting-Edge Rocket Engine Technology

Design a groundbreaking rocket engine, and you may find the world knocking at your door. This is the case for Venus Aerospace and its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), a remarkably efficient technology for launching payloads into the atmosphere.

Established in 2020 by husband-and-wife duo CEO Sassie Duggleby and CTO Andrew Duggleby, the company originally sought to create environmentally friendly hypersonic jets for commercial travel. However, following a successful engine demonstration last year, their priorities have changed.

“After our flight last May, the global response was overwhelming: ‘Wow, you have a working RDRE; can we purchase one?’ This was beyond our expectations,” Sassie Duggleby noted in an interview with TechCrunch.

Currently, Venus is focusing its resources on hypersonic weapon development, with the goal of substituting solid rocket motors in many missiles with their advanced thrusters, in addition to creating swift space vehicles for military purposes.

“Our propulsion architecture combines efficiency, throttle control, reusability, and manufacturability to address the genuine needs of defense and space operations,” Andrew Duggleby remarked. “We strive to transition our technological progress into reliable systems ready for operational use.”

Today, Venus announced a $90 million Series B funding round aimed at strategically positioning the company by financing the testing and advancement of specific vehicle designs for prospective customers. This round was spearheaded by Mercury Fund and included contributions from Lockheed Martin Ventures, MESH, PEAK6, Draper Associates, Starboard Star Venture Capital, and Green Sands Equity.

Initially envisioned in the mid-20th century as a more efficient method for rocket launches, the RDRE operates by producing a continuous supersonic combustion wave that flows through a cylindrical chamber rather than simply combusting propellants. (Here’s a visualization.) This technique promises to minimize propellant waste, although the complex physics involved were historically difficult to comprehend and manage.

Recent advancements have improved this technology thanks to 3D printing and enhanced simulations. The first successful test took place in 2020 at the University of Central Florida. NASA executed its inaugural ground demonstration of an RDRE in 2022, while Japan’s space agency JAXA operated one briefly in space in 2021. Venus’ test in 2025 was remarkable as it marked the first time an RDRE successfully launched a rocket in flight.

“When we founded Venus, our story revolved around developing a new rocket engine that we believed would produce heat and thrust more efficiently while also addressing thermal management,” Sassie Duggleby explained. “Much of our research over the last four years has been concentrated on preventing the engine from overheating—and we’ve successfully tackled that challenge.”

This year, the company received funding from the Texas Space Commission to build a larger test stand. This is critical for Venus: throughout 600 tests, the longest duration for which its engine has operated is 32 seconds, but it will need to achieve sustained burns lasting between 6 to 15 minutes to meet client demands.