Launch Vehicles & Propulsion companies in United States
Space Atlas lists 48 organisations in United States working in launch vehicles & propulsion: 22 private companies, 21 startups, 5 spaceport/launch sites. That is 18% of the 263 space organisations in United States and 18% of the 270 in this sector worldwide. Most are based in Long Beach (4), Kent (2), Arlington (2).
Private Company (22)
- Ad Astra Rocket Company · Private Company · Webster
American plasma propulsion developer — builds the VASIMR variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket near NASA Johnson Space Center.
- Anduril Industries · Private Company · Costa Mesa
Develops autonomous systems for all domains including space — builds AI-powered autonomous vehicles, rocket motors and software for national security and allied defence missions.
- Astra · Private Company · Alameda
American launch and spacecraft propulsion company — develops the Rocket 4 small launcher and builds Astra Spacecraft Engines electric thrusters.
- Blue Origin · Private Company · Kent
Develops reusable rockets and space vehicles to enable a future where millions live and work in space.
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security · Private Company · Arlington
Develops launch systems, satellites and crewed spacecraft for government and commercial customers.
- Busek Co. Inc. · Private Company · Natick
American spacecraft propulsion manufacturer — builds Hall effect, electrospray, RF ion and green monopropellant thrusters, incl. for NASA Gateway's PPE.
- Celestis Memorial Spaceflights · Private Company · Houston
American memorial spaceflight company — flies symbolic portions of cremated remains and DNA to Earth orbit, the Moon and deep space on rideshare launches.
- ExoTerra Resource · Private Company · Littleton
American electric propulsion maker — designs and produces Halo Hall-effect thruster modules for small satellites, including DARPA Blackjack spacecraft.
- Firefly Aerospace · Private Company · Cedar Park
Develops small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers and space tugs — operates the Alpha rocket, Blue Ghost lunar lander and Elytra space tug for government and commerc…
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions · Private Company · San Diego
American defence contractor — supplies satellite ground systems, command-and-control software, RF products and propulsion alongside drones and missiles.
- Momentus Space · Private Company · San Jose
Provides in-space transportation and services — operates the Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle for last-mile satellite delivery, hosted payloads and in-space demonstration missi…
- Moog Inc. (Space and Defense Group) · Private Company · East Aurora
American motion-control manufacturer — its Space and Defense group builds spacecraft propulsion, avionics, buses and launch vehicle actuation systems.
- Northrop Grumman · Private Company · Falls Church
Global aerospace, defence and space technology company delivering advanced systems and solutions.
- Rocket Lab · Private Company · Long Beach
Delivering frequent, reliable launch services and spacecraft solutions to make space more accessible for all.
- RTX Corporation (Raytheon) · Private Company · Arlington
Global aerospace and defense conglomerate — provides space-based sensors, missile defense systems, satellite intelligence and propulsion via Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney a…
- SpaceWorks Enterprises · Private Company · Atlanta
Provides aerospace engineering, market research, advanced concept development and innovative flight hardware — specialises in small satellite systems, propulsion and hypersonic …
- SpaceX · Private Company · Hawthorne
Designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft to revolutionise access to space.
- Starfighters Space, Inc. · Private Company · Kennedy Space Center
American air-launch company — operates a fleet of F-104 jets from Kennedy Space Center to develop low-cost launch of small satellites and payloads.
- Stratolaunch · Private Company · Mojave
Advances high-speed technology through design, manufacturing and operation of hypersonic aerospace vehicles — operates the world's largest aircraft (Roc) and Talon-A hypersonic …
- ULA (United Launch Alliance) · Private Company · Decatur
Provides reliable, affordable access to space for US government and commercial missions.
- Ursa Major Technologies · Private Company · Berthoud
Develops flight-proven liquid and solid rocket propulsion systems for space launch, hypersonics and space mobility — builds the Hadley, Ripley and Arroway engines for next-gener…
- Virgin Galactic · Private Company · Truth or Consequences
Pioneering commercial human spaceflight with reusable spaceplane technology.
Startup (21)
- Agile Space Industries · Startup · Durango
Develops hypergolic in-space propulsion systems for small satellites, lunar landers and orbital transfer vehicles — provides flight-proven, non-toxic storable propellant thruste…
- Auriga Space · Startup · Long Beach
American launch startup in Long Beach — developing an electromagnetic launch system to accelerate payloads toward orbit without rocket first stages.
- Benchmark Space Systems · Startup · Burlington
Full life-cycle in-space mobility provider — develops green chemical, electric and hybrid propulsion systems for CubeSats through ESPA-class spacecraft in LEO, GEO and beyond.
- Evolution Space · Startup · Tampa
American launch startup — develops and manufactures low-part-count solid rocket motors and suborbital vehicles for hypersonic testing and research.
- Frontier Aerospace · Startup · Moorpark
Develops low-cost, high-performance propulsion systems for lunar landers, orbital transfer vehicles and deep space missions — produces monopropellant and bipropellant thrusters …
- Helicity Space · Startup · Pasadena
American propulsion startup — develops the Helicity Drive, a magneto-inertial fusion propulsion concept for fast deep-space transportation.
- Impulse Space · Startup · Redondo Beach
Develops in-space transportation vehicles for the inner solar system — operates Mira (LEO tug) and Helios (deep-space tug) to deliver payloads to custom orbits beyond what launc…
- Karman Space & Defense · Startup · El Segundo
Manufactures advanced composite structures and components for space launch vehicles and satellites — produces rocket nosecones, fairings, structural assemblies and thermal prote…
- Maverick Space Systems · Startup · San Luis Obispo
American launch integration company — provides CubeSat dispensers and end-to-end rideshare and dedicated launch integration services near Vandenberg.
- Outpost Space · Startup · Los Angeles
American reentry startup — develops Ferryall and Carryall return vehicles using deployable heat shields and guided paragliders for cargo return.
- Phantom Space Corporation · Startup · Tucson
Develops integrated launch vehicles, modular satellites and in-space propulsion — the Daytona rocket targets small satellite orbital launches with a turnkey space access and dat…
- Phase Four · Startup · Manhattan Beach
Develops radio frequency (RF) plasma electric propulsion systems for small satellites — the Maxwell thruster provides scalable, propellant-free in-space propulsion for LEO const…
- Portal Space Systems · Startup · Bothell
Develops the Supernova high-power solar electric orbital transfer vehicle — enables satellites to move freely across orbits for resupply, repositioning and extended mission life.
- Radian Aerospace · Startup · Bellevue
American spaceplane developer — designing Radian One, a reusable rail-launched single-stage-to-orbit vehicle for crew and cargo to low Earth orbit.
- Relativity Space · Startup · Long Beach
Pioneers 3D-printed rocket manufacturing — developing the Terran R fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle using autonomous Stargate robotic printing for the commercial launch…
- Rocket Crafters · Startup · Titusville
Develops hybrid propulsion systems for launch vehicles — pioneers 3D-printed fuel grain technology for safer, cleaner and more affordable rocket propulsion for small satellite l…
- Rubicon Space Systems · Startup · Huntsville
American propulsion startup spun out of Plasma Processes — builds green-propellant (ASCENT) thrusters and propulsion systems for small satellites.
- SpinLaunch · Startup · Long Beach
American space company — developing kinetic centrifuge launch technology and the Meridian Space LEO broadband satellite constellation.
- Stoke Space · Startup · Kent
Developing Nova, a 100% fully reusable medium-lift orbital rocket — targets rapid turnaround between flights with an actively cooled second-stage heatshield for atmospheric reen…
- Venus Aerospace · Startup · Houston
Develops Mach 9 hypersonic aircraft for point-to-point travel — the Stargazer vehicle uses a rotating detonation rocket engine to enable 1-hour transpacific flights for commerci…
- X-Bow Systems · Startup · Albuquerque
American solid rocket motor manufacturer — builds solid propulsion for missiles and small launch vehicles, with production in New Mexico and Texas.
Spaceport/Launch Site (5)
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) – Virginia Spaceport Authority · Spaceport/Launch Site · Wallops Island
State-owned spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia — operates launch pads used by Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman and Firefly next to NASA Wallops.
- Mojave Air & Space Port · Spaceport/Launch Site · Mojave
FAA-licensed spaceport and airport in California's Mojave Desert — hosts flight test and rocket development firms such as Scaled Composites.
- Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) · Spaceport/Launch Site · Burns Flat
Oklahoma state authority — operates the FAA-licensed Oklahoma Air & Space Port at Clinton-Sherman Airport in Burns Flat.
- Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (Alaska Aerospace Corporation) · Spaceport/Launch Site · Kodiak
State-owned Alaskan spaceport on Kodiak Island — provides orbital and suborbital launch and missile test range services to commercial and defence users.
- Spaceport America (New Mexico Spaceport Authority) · Spaceport/Launch Site · Truth or Consequences
State-owned commercial spaceport in New Mexico — hosts Virgin Galactic suborbital flights and vertical launch tenants in Sierra County.