World’s first rotating detonation rocket engine lands $91M to scale production

Houston-based Venus Aerospace raised $91 million to scale production of its rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE), a propulsion system that delivers roughly 15% better fuel efficiency than conventional rocket engines. Unlike traditional engines, it uses a continuously rotating supersonic detonation wave, making it smaller and more powerful. Backed by Lockheed Martin Ventures and others, Venus plans to supply defense and space customers with domestically manufactured engines capable of powering hypersonic weapons, spacecraft, and eventually passenger aircraft flying Los Angeles to Tokyo in under two hours.