Auriga Space raises $6M to shoot rockets off an electromagnetic launch track

In a landscape where U.S. companies are increasingly launching payloads into orbit, traditional rockets face significant inefficiencies. The majority of a rocket's weight is derived from propellant, much of which is expended just to counteract Earth’s gravitational pull and atmosphere. Enter Auriga Space, a pioneering startup from California, which is set to transform the launch industry. Rather than relying on standard first-stage boosters, Auriga is developing an innovative launch track powered by electricity and robust magnets. This setup will accelerate a small rocket to speeds exceeding six times the speed of sound. As the track concludes with a steep incline, the rocket will exit at hypersonic speeds, igniting its engine only in the final ascent to orbit. This method not only conserves propellant but also allows for a fully reusable ground-based infrastructure. According to Auriga's founder and CEO Winnie Lai, "Less than 2% of the mass of the rocket actually reaches space." The company's vision is to enhance launch efficiency, thereby reducing costs and facilitating more frequent launches. While electromagnetic launch systems aren't a novel concept, Auriga’s approach draws parallels to rail guns and magnetic levitation systems. Lai asserts that recent advancements in power electronics, particularly those enabling operation at higher voltages and powers, have made this idea both technologically feasible and commercially viable. To fuel its ambitions, Auriga has closed a seed funding round of $4.6 million earlier this year, supplemented by $1.4 million in contracts from AFWERX and SpaceWERX. The funding was led by OTB Ventures, with additional contributions from Trucks Venture Capital and Seraphim Space, bringing the company’s total funding to $12.2 million through venture capital and Department of Defense grants. The precise design of the launch system, including the length of the tunnel and the size of the rocket, is still in the works. Even with a lengthy track, the high-G forces experienced during launch may restrict the types of satellites that can be accommodated. Initial studies suggest that certain satellite components could endure higher G loads than previously assumed, which could open up possibilities for additional payloads. Auriga is also exploring custom solutions to support payloads that may need to withstand these high forces. Lai noted that certain military applications, such as munitions and missile launches, encounter similarly extreme G forces, providing confidence that there are payloads capable of surviving their launch conditions. The startup plans to first introduce hypersonic ground testing, with a recent Small Business Innovation and Research grant enabling the commercialization of a lab-scale track named Prometheus next year. Additionally, an outdoor accelerator for full-scale hypersonic testing, referred to as Thor, is also in the works, while the orbital launcher is called Zeus. Customers have voiced a significant need for affordable, on-demand test infrastructure to advance hypersonic technology. Prometheus and Thor aim to meet this demand by allowing multiple tests on the same article under varying flight conditions, all at a lower cost and higher frequency than currently available options. These platforms will also support a variety of tests, including aerodynamic and impact assessments, using a unified architecture. Moreover, Auriga is addressing the U.S. Space Force's request for "responsive" launch capabilities, which would enable rapid deployment of payloads with minimal notice. While some companies have demonstrated impressive turnaround times in recent months, Auriga aims to condense this timeframe to mere minutes, akin to the convenience of hailing a ride with an app. As Auriga Space strives to redefine the rocket launch paradigm, the industry watches with keen interest.