Houston Aerospace Firms Advance Technology and Secure New Contracts

Venus Aerospace has inaugurated a new propulsion test stand at the Houston Spaceport to support its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) project. Funded by the Texas Space Commission's Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund, this facility will enable Venus to conduct tests at increased thrust levels and for longer durations, simulating real-life conditions more effectively. "Building and testing propulsion systems at this pace requires the right infrastructure around the technology," said Sassie Duggleby, CEO and co-founder of Venus Aerospace. The ribbon-cutting on September 10 included attendance from local leaders and officials. In July, Venus closed a $91 million Series B funding round and expanded its leadership team.

Axiom Space has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at ensuring sustained European access to low-Earth orbit (LEO) after the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS). This agreement outlines plans for future astronaut missions on the ISS and Axiom Station and will explore various collaborations, including research and transportation solutions. Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA's director of human and robotic exploration, emphasized the importance of preparing for new solutions to maintain access to LEO. Axiom has also made strides internationally this year, establishing subsidiaries in Switzerland and Japan.

Aegis Aerospace, located in Webster, Texas, has secured a new task order from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program, beginning in October. This contract involves designing, building, testing, and operating Department of War payloads on various launch vehicles. The contract was issued by the U.S. Space Systems Command under NASA Johnson Space Center’s Research, Engineering, and Mission Integration Services 2. Aegis Aerospace is actively working on three payload facilities on the ISS and is developing two additional facilities. President Matt Ondler remarked on the importance of maintaining U.S. superiority in space through this continued collaboration.