Venus Aerospace Raises $90M Series B as Defense Investors Back Detonation Rocket Engine

The Houston propulsion startup raised $90 million led by Mercury Fund, with Lockheed Martin Ventures among participants. Venus develops Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines, which sustain supersonic detonation waves to achieve higher efficiency than conventional rocket motors. The round, announced July 8, 2026, follows a $20 million Series A in 2022. The company has conducted 600 ground tests, with the longest continuous burn lasting 32 seconds. A May 2025 flight test marked the first time an RDRE powered a rocket into flight.