Lux Aeterna Aims to Revolutionize Space with Reusable Satellites
▼ Summary
– Satellites often end their lives by burning up in Earth’s atmosphere or being moved to graveyard orbits, but startup Lux Aeterna aims to change this with reusable satellites.
– Lux Aeterna’s reusable satellite, Delphi, is designed to launch and land by 2027, potentially reducing costs and increasing flexibility for satellite payloads.
– The Department of Defense and venture capitalists have shown interest, with the startup raising $4 million in pre-seed funding led by Space Capital.
– Delphi’s design includes a heat shield inspired by NASA missions, enabling it to survive multiple re-entries without compromising on technology due to weight or cost constraints.
– The company plans to launch Delphi on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2027, test its reusability, and later develop a larger production vehicle to advance satellite reusability further.
Satellites perform critical functions from global communications to environmental monitoring, yet most meet an inevitable end, either burning up in Earth’s atmosphere or drifting into abandoned orbits. Lux Aeterna, a Denver-based startup emerging from stealth mode, plans to disrupt this cycle with its reusable satellite, Delphi, slated for launch in 2027. If successful, the technology could dramatically reduce costs and increase flexibility in space missions, addressing a major pain point for both commercial and defense sectors.
The Department of Defense has already shown interest, recognizing the strategic value of reusable satellites in low-Earth orbit. Investors are equally enthusiastic, with Space Capital leading a $4 million pre-seed funding round that included Dynamo Ventures and Mission One Capital.
Brian Taylor, Lux Aeterna’s founder and CEO, drew inspiration from his time at SpaceX, where he witnessed the potential of heavy-lift rockets like Starship. “I want to fill Starship with something that changes the entire industry,” Taylor remarked, emphasizing the need for innovation in satellite design. Unlike traditional satellites, which remain locked in orbit for years, Delphi is engineered for multiple re-entries, leveraging advancements in heat shield technology.
The satellite’s conical heat shield, revealed in recent renderings, borrows from NASA’s proven designs. “We studied past missions to validate our approach,” Taylor explained, highlighting the importance of building on existing successes rather than reinventing core systems. While specifics about refurbishment remain under wraps, the design reportedly includes a foldable satellite bus for compact re-entry.
Taylor’s background lends credibility to the ambitious project. Beyond SpaceX’s Starlink program, he contributed to Amazon’s Kuiper initiative and Loft Orbital, giving him firsthand insight into satellite infrastructure. Delphi’s inaugural mission, scheduled for 2027, will involve a full orbital flight and return, followed by repeat launches to prove reusability.
Looking ahead, Lux Aeterna aims to develop a larger production model capable of even greater reuse cycles. Taylor sees the satellite industry as still in its infancy, comparing its current state to early computing or automotive development. Reusable satellites, he believes, will accelerate maturity, unlocking possibilities that are still unimaginable.
“The most exciting part is the unknown, what we haven’t even thought of yet,” Taylor said. With reusable satellites, the future of space-based economies could be far more dynamic than today’s static orbital infrastructure suggests.
(Source: TechCrunch)
