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Velontra

Summer 2022 · Active

Hypersonic space plane that can take-off from any location and weather

Location: Cincinnati, OH, US

Founded: 2021

Team size: 5

About

Velontra is building a hypersonic space plane that can takeoff from anywhere in any weather. This horizontal takeoff increases launch reliability and enables customers to directly access any orbit. Our air-breathing propulsion system is up to 6 times more fuel efficient than any rocket, and uses oxygen from the air which creates thousands of pounds of additional payload capacity. We have millions in current government/commercial contracts and LOI’s. We have assembled a team of industry experts, government senior executives, and a NASA astronaut. The hypersonic space plane will work by taking off from any runway with a jet propulsion system. Next, it will climb to over 100,000’ and Mach 5. At this point, it will launch a 2nd stage rocket directly into the desired Low Earth Orbit. Velontra is “boldly going where no one has gone before.”

Founders

  • Joel DarinFounder

    Most recently first employee at Hermeus where I designed, built and tested a Turbine-Based-Combined-Cycle prototype demonstrator up to Mach 4+. Prior to that I worked at GE Aviation in Afterburner Design. Before GE I was at Georgia Tech where I did research in computational fluid dynamic simulations of reacting flows while obtaining a MS in Combustion. I started at Michigan State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.