Venus Aerospace Secures $90M as Defense Investors Back Novel Rocket Engine

Houston propulsion startup Venus Aerospace has raised $90 million led by Mercury Fund, with Lockheed Martin Ventures participating. The company develops Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines, which harness controlled supersonic shockwaves to improve efficiency over conventional motors. The July 2026 round follows a 2022 Series A. Venus has completed 600 ground tests, including a 32-second continuous burn, and flew its engine on an actual rocket in May 2025.