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A Colorado startup aiming to change how satellites operate — and survive — in space has secured fresh investment to bring its bold concept closer to reality.

With Lux Aeterna $10M seed funding, the Denver-based venture is accelerating development of a reusable spacecraft designed to return from orbit, land safely on Earth and fly again with new payloads.

The company’s first demonstration flight is now targeted for early 2027, marking a potential turning point in an industry long dominated by disposable satellites.

Startup Raises $10 Million for Reusable Satellite

Lux Aeterna announced March 10 that it raised $10 million in seed funding to develop its reusable spacecraft system.

The round was led by early-stage investment firm Konvoy, bringing Lux Aeterna’s total funding to $14 million since the company was founded in August 2024 by former SpaceX engineer Brian Taylor.

The startup’s flagship spacecraft, known as Delphi-1, is designed to survive the fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere — something most satellites cannot do.

Instead of burning up at the end of a mission, the spacecraft would land and be refurbished for future flights.

First Test Flight Planned for 2027

Lux Aeterna plans to conduct its first parachute drop test before the end of June, using an early prototype of the Delphi-1 vehicle.

The spacecraft itself is being built around a rigid heat shield that doubles as the satellite’s structural framework.

A critical design review initially scheduled for last year has now been moved to early April, clearing the path toward the company’s first orbital mission.

That launch is currently planned for the first quarter of 2027, when Delphi-1 will ride to low Earth orbit (LEO) on a rideshare mission aboard a rocket from SpaceX.

After completing its orbital mission, the spacecraft will attempt a controlled landing in South Australia.

According to Taylor, the inaugural flight has already been fully booked by customers.

“We’re not sharing the exact mass of this specific payload,” Taylor said in an email, “but the spacecraft itself is 200 kilograms with a 30-kilogram payload capacity.”

He added that the demonstration mission will primarily validate the company’s core technology while paving the way for larger spacecraft.

“Our next-generation vehicles will significantly increase this capacity,” Taylor said.

Customers Include Commercial and Defense Groups

Taylor said early customers include a blend of commercial companies and defense organizations interested in several advanced space applications.

Those include: