Lux Aeterna, a next-generation space infrastructure company transforming orbital operations through reentry and reusability, emerged from stealth and announced its $4 million pre-seed funding round. The funding round was led by Space Capital with participation from Dynamo Ventures, Mission One Capital, Alumni Ventures, Service Provider Capital, and strategic deep tech angels, including the co-founders of Dive Technologies (acquired by Anduril).
What Lux Aeterna does: Lux Aeterna is developing the world’s first fully reusable satellite bus, engineered for high reliability and designed to meet emerging demands from the U.S. Department of Defense for responsive space capabilities. The company is building a future in which satellites aren’t single-use assets but dependable infrastructure that can be launched, returned, and redeployed like reusable rockets.
The company plans to embark on its pathfinder demonstration in early 2027, when it will launch its first spacecraft, Delphi, through Exolaunch on a rideshare mission with SpaceX. Delphi will demonstrate an end-to-end mission by hosting an onboard payload, conducting on-orbit tests, and then re-entering Earth’s atmosphere to be recovered and refurbished for another flight, making it the first satellite to fly twice.
Lux Aeterna’s platform is fully reusable. And this breakthrough lowers costs while also setting a new standard for resilience and sustainability in orbital operations. As part of this shift, Lux Aeterna is introducing multiple business models to provide customers with a range of options for accessing and operating satellites. Whether a mission lasts six months or five years, the cost can align with time on station, unlocking new operational and economic agility.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re taking the high-risk, high-cost nature out of space missions and replacing it with reliability, flexibility, and reusability. This funding is the first milestone in our mission to industrialize space through reusable infrastructure. While the satellite industry has evolved rapidly, its core infrastructure is still designed to be disposable. Lux Aeterna is changing that fundamental approach from the ground up.”
Brian Taylor, Founder and CEO of Lux Aeterna, a former engineering leader at SpaceX, Amazon Project Kuiper, and Loft Orbital
“We backed Lux Aeterna because this team has been at the leading edge of satellite innovation for years—building some of the most advanced spacecraft at the most ambitious companies. That experience gave them a rare vantage point to rethink how satellites are designed, deployed, and reused. They’re not just iterating—they’re stepping boldly into what’s next. With the DoD actively seeking more dynamic and recoverable space platforms, this capability is urgently needed.”
Justus Kilian, Partner at Space Capital
