Rendering of the Lux Aeterna Delphi returnable satellite demonstration. Photo: Lux Aeterna

Lux Aeterna, a new startup targeting reusable satellite bus platforms, emerged from stealth mode on Wednesday with a $4 million pre-seed funding round. 

Space Capital led the funding round, with participation from Dynamo Ventures, Mission One Capital, Alumni Ventures, Service Provider Capital, and deep tech angel investors. 

The company is focusing on building reusable satellite platforms, describing the concept of satellites as “dependable infrastructure that can be launched, returned, and redeployed like reusable rockets.” The company explained this could be valuable for applications like experimental defense tech demonstrations, pharmaceutical and materials research, and allow for recovery of sensitive payloads or upgrading payloads. 

Lux Aeterna plans to launch a pathfinder demonstration in early 2027 called Delphi, which will host a payload, conduct on-orbit tests, and return for recovery and refurbishment. 

The company is based in Denver, Colorado, and was founded by Brian Taylor, a former engineering leader at SpaceX, Amazon Project Kuiper, and Loft Orbital. 

“We’re taking the high-risk, high-cost nature out of space missions and replacing it with reliability, flexibility, and reusability,” Taylor said in a release. “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.”