Orbital Operations, a startup based in Long Beach, California, has secured a contract worth up to $35 million from the Department of Defense. The agreement, structured as a prototype Other Transaction Agreement, funds a full-scale orbital demonstration of the company's cryogenic-maneuvering vehicle, Astraeus.
The company also finalized a $7 million seed extension round led by DTX Ventures. This brings the total capital raised by the startup to approximately $16 million. Other participants in the round included GoAhead Ventures, Solaris Ventures, Initialized Capital, Harpoon Ventures, and TRAC VC.
Astraeus is designed to function as a reusable third stage for space operations, providing launch-vehicle-class propulsion. The vehicle aims to enhance maneuverability and speed for on-orbit assets, aligning with the United States Space Command's technology priorities for the 2029 to 2033 period.
The startup currently employs approximately 13 people. Following the completion of its seed funding, the team conducted a full-pressure hot-fire test in under six months. Future development phases will focus on additional engine hot-fires, refrigeration-cycle testing, and flight qualification.
