Vaya Space
Vaya Space is a privately held Florida-based space and defense company developing vortex hybrid rocket engines, the Dauntless smallsat orbital launcher, missile propulsion systems, and precision manufacturing services, serving commercial satellite operators and U.S. defense agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersCocoa, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vaya Space does
Vaya Space is a privately held space and defense company headquartered in Cocoa, Florida, founded in 2017 (originally as Rocket Crafters, rebranded March 2021) by former Space Shuttle Commander Sid Gutierrez. The company develops orbital launch vehicles, in-space propulsion, and advanced missile engines based on proprietary vortex hybrid rocket technology that uses 3D-printed recycled-thermoplastic (HDPE) fuel grains and a patented vortex flow field injection system. Two US patents (US11434180B2 and US11506147B2) protect the fuel-grain manufacturing process and the linear-throttling vortex injector, supporting reported performance of 110+ kN thrust per engine, up to 350 seconds ISP, 1,000+ kg payload to LEO, and 600+ kg to SSO using the Dauntless launcher.
The company generates revenue through three primary streams: commercial smallsat launch services (Dauntless rocket, with a multi-launch contract for up to 250 satellites with Space Telecommunications, Inc. commencing 2027), defense propulsion contracts (Army DEVCOM CRADA, AFWERX Phase II $1.2M, SBIR programs for hypersonic propulsion), and precision manufacturing services via the April 2025 acquisition of KAM Technologies' machining division, rebranded as Vaya Advanced Machining. Go-to-market combines direct sales to satellite constellation operators and government agencies with strategic partnerships for launch infrastructure (Phantom Space at Cape Canaveral LC-13; Seagate Space and The Spaceport Company for offshore platforms) and additive manufacturing supply (Velo3D $4M Master Services Agreement).
Customers span satellite telecommunications (Space Telecommunications, Inc., Alya Nanosatellites, All2Space), space-computing infrastructure (OrbitsEdge), and U.S. government/defense agencies (NASA, Army DEVCOM AvMC, AFWERX). Board and advisory composition includes two retired four-star generals (Wesley Clark, Robert 'Abe' Abrams), reflecting a defense-focused strategic posture. As of early 2023 the company reported over $100 million in customer commitments, with a total disclosed funding base including a 2025 SEC Form D exempt offering of $17.1 million and prior rounds dating back to 2017.
Vaya Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vaya Space
- Legal name
- Vaya Space, Inc.
- Website
- https://www.vayaspace.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Vaya Space is a privately held Florida-based space and defense company developing vortex hybrid rocket engines, the Dauntless smallsat orbital launcher, missile propulsion systems, and precision manufacturing services, serving commercial satellite operators and U.S. defense agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vaya Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Launch and Hybrid Rocket Propulsion
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC), Hybrid Rocket Engines (IMABADAG)
Keywords
Where Vaya Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cocoa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Vaya Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Satellite Launch Services: Launch services for small satellites (SmallSat market) using the Dauntless rocket. Launch reservation system with multi-launch contracts for constellation deployments.
- Defense Contracts: Government contracts for missile propulsion systems including AFWERX Phase II ($1.2M), Army DEVCOM CRADA, and SBIR programs for hypersonic propulsion technology.
- Vaya Advanced Machining: Precision manufacturing services acquired through KAM Technologies acquisition, serving aerospace, defense, and advanced industrial sectors.
- Hybrid Rocket Engine Sales: Sale of vortex hybrid rocket engines for space and defense applications, including tactical missile propulsion systems.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Vaya Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vaya Space designs, manufactures, and sells orbital launch vehicles, missile propulsion systems, and in-space propulsion systems powered by its proprietary STAR-3D Vortex Hybrid Rocket Engine. The company offers launch services for small satellites to LEO and SSO, hybrid rocket engines for space and defense applications, and precision machining services through its Vaya Advanced Machining division. Customers include satellite constellation operators, defense agencies (AFWERX, Army DEVCOM, NASA), and international satellite companies.
Product overview
Vaya Space is a space and defense company developing orbital launch vehicles, in-space propulsion, and advanced missile engines powered by proprietary hybrid rocket technology. The company's product portfolio centers on three core offerings: the Dauntless Launcher for orbital small satellite delivery, Missile Propulsion systems for tactical and hypersonic defense applications, and Orbital Propulsion for in-space maneuverability. These products are unified by the STAR-3D Hybrid Rocket Engine technology, which uses 3D-printed fuel grains from recycled thermoplastics and a vortex flow field injection system to deliver liquid-level performance at hybrid-level costs. The company has supplemented its propulsion expertise with Vaya Advanced Machining, a precision manufacturing division acquired in 2025 to expand in-house production capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dauntless Launcher Orbital launch vehicle powered by Vaya Space's proprietary vortex hybrid rocket technology, designed to deliver small satellites (greater than 1,000 kg to LEO and greater than 600 kg to SSO) with affordable and reliable access to space. Used by satellite constellation operators and government customers.
- Missile Propulsion Systems Advanced missile engine systems utilizing vortex hybrid propulsion technology for defense applications, including tactical missiles and hypersonic weapons with throttleable, restartable capabilities and zero TNT explosive equivalency. Targets U.S. defense agencies and defense primes.
- Orbital Propulsion Systems In-space propulsion systems for orbital maneuverability and satellite operations, leveraging hybrid rocket technology for reliable and efficient orbital stage performance. Targeted at satellite operators requiring on-orbit propulsion.
- STAR-3D Hybrid Rocket Engine Proprietary vortex hybrid rocket engine utilizing 3D-printed fuel grains made from recycled thermoplastics, delivering up to 110 kN of thrust with up to 350 seconds ISP. Eliminates instability issues of traditional hybrid engines and provides deep throttling and in-flight restart capability. Sold to space and defense customers.
- Vaya Advanced Machining Precision machining and manufacturing services for aerospace, defense, and advanced industrial sectors. Provides vertically integrated production capabilities acquired through the KAM Technologies machining division acquisition.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 120 successful hot-fire tests across various engine sizes and configurations
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Vaya Space
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vaya Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Vaya Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Seagate SpacecoreGulf-based offshore launch capability using Seagate's Gateway floating platform to launch Vaya's Dauntless hybrid rocket, enabling flexible mobile sea-based launch infrastructure for commercial and defense missions.
- Ron SchneweisminorBoard of Directors member with extensive experience in business management, finance, and strategic leadership supporting aerospace innovation and growth.
- Velo3Dcore$4 million two-year Master Services Agreement for additive manufacturing R&D and production. Velo3D serves as exclusive provider of GRCop42 additive components with guaranteed capacity for propulsion system components including nozzles, injectors, and turbopumps.
- Chad TaylorminorBoard advisor bringing legal expertise and operational insight, former District Attorney and corporate counsel with experience in governance, M&A, and risk management.
- KAM TechnologiescoreAcquisition of machining operations creating Vaya Advanced Machining division, expanding in-house precision manufacturing capacity while KAM Technologies focuses on engineering and product development.
- Space Telecommunications, Inc.coreMulti-launch contract for Dauntless rocket to deploy up to 250 satellites in first phase of constellation to LEO commencing in 2027 for next-generation 5G internet connectivity.
- Scorpius Space LaunchcoreStrategic partnership to develop largest propellant tank to date - 6 feet diameter, 22.6 feet long oxidizer tank - serving as core of Dauntless first stage. Tank built at Torrance facility and delivered to Cocoa for integration.
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC)coreCooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to investigate vortex hybrid propulsion technology for surface-to-surface missile applications, follow-on to successful 8kN engine demonstrations.
- All Points / SpacePrepminorStrategic partnership for spacecraft processing services supporting launch operations through SpacePrep Launch Support Program.
- Phantom SpacecoreRevolutionary launch site agreement for both companies to simultaneously operate from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 13, maximizing limited launch site availability and providing national security advantages through responsive launch capability.
- Phantom SpacemajorShared use of Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station through Launch Pad Allocation Strategy (LPAS) by Space Launch Delta 45.
- SafetyIQminorLong-term partnership providing safety software solutions to transform latent safety data into actionable safety strategies for launch operations.
- The Spaceport CompanymajorPartnership for mobile offshore launch platforms to address spaceport congestion and enable point-to-point transportation, with launch campaign planned as early as Q1 2025.
- General Wesley Clark (Ret.)minorSenior advisor to Board and Company, retired four-star general and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, brings global defense, investment banking, and industry leadership experience.
- General Robert 'Abe' Abrams (Ret.)minorSenior advisor to Board and Company bringing over 30 years of global defense industry experience, former commander of U.S. Forces Korea and Army Forces Command.
- In-Space Computing Alliance (ISCA)majorAlliance with C8 Secure, OrbitsEdge, and SpacePrep to provide secure data processing capabilities at edge of space, reducing data transmission requirements and enabling spaceborne computing.
- OrbitsEdgemajorLong-term exclusive launch agreement for orbital computing datacenters to be deployed in LEO above the cloud, partnered with HP Enterprise, AWS, NVIDIA, and Red Hat.
- Alya NanosatellitesmajorLong-term launch services agreement with Brazilian company for orbital placement of nanosatellite constellation generating hyperspectral images for atmospheric monitoring, agriculture, and environmental protection.
- All2SpacemajorExclusive launch contract for Latin American CubeSat developer and aggregator for satellite constellation deployment.
- NASAmajorMulti-faceted agreement for collaboration on space launch activities and propulsion technology development.
- Carol CraigminorBoard member, Founder and CEO of Craig Technologies and Craig Technologies Aerospace Solutions, first female CEO to commercially provide satellite deployment from ISS.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vaya Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rocket Lab: Operates Electron smallsat launch vehicle and is developing Neutron; the closest direct peer in dedicated small satellite launch services targeting constellation operators with similar customer profile.
- Firefly Aerospace: Develops Alpha smallsat launch vehicle and MLV; competes directly in the small-to-medium launch market with comparable payload classes and government/defense customer overlap.
- ABL Space Systems: Develops RS1 smallsat launch vehicle with comparable payload capacity to Dauntless; similarly positioned in the dedicated small launch segment competing for constellation contracts.
- Astra Space: Developed Rocket small launch vehicle; direct competitor in responsive smallsat launch market with similar target customers and payload class as Vaya's Dauntless.
- Ursa Major Technologies: Manufactures advanced solid rocket engines for defense and space launch; comparable as an independent propulsion technology provider selling engines to defense primes and launch providers.
- Phantom Space Corporation: Small launch startup developing Daytona and other vehicles; shares Cape Canaveral LC-13 with Vaya through the same partnership, making it a direct operational and competitive peer.
Emerging players
- Relativity Space: Develops Terran rocket with 3D-printed components and Aeon engines; overlaps with Vaya in additive manufacturing approach to rocket propulsion and small/medium launch market.
- Impulse Space: Develops in-space transportation (Mira, LEO Express) using non-toxic propellants; comparable in offering orbital/in-space propulsion services as a complement to Vaya's Orbital Propulsion product line.
Broad incumbents
- SpaceX: Dominant incumbent in launch with Falcon 9 rideshare serving the same smallsat and constellation customer base; defines pricing expectations and service-level benchmarks Vaya must compete against.
- Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital Sciences / Orbital ATK): Established defense prime providing rocket propulsion (solid motors), tactical missile systems, and small launch (Pegasus, Minotaur); relevant incumbent in defense propulsion and small launch markets Vaya targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Vaya Space social profiles
Digital presenceVaya Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vaya Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Vaya Space subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Vaya Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vaya Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vaya Space
What does Vaya Space do?
Vaya Space designs, manufactures, and sells orbital launch vehicles, missile propulsion systems, and in-space propulsion systems powered by its proprietary STAR-3D Vortex Hybrid Rocket Engine. The company offers launch services for small satellites to LEO and SSO, hybrid rocket engines for space and defense applications, and precision machining services through its Vaya Advanced Machining division. Customers include satellite constellation operators, defense agencies (AFWERX, Army DEVCOM, NASA), and international satellite companies.
Is Vaya Space a public or private company?
Vaya Space is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vaya Space founded?
Vaya Space was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Vaya Space based?
Vaya Space is headquartered in Cocoa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vaya Space make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Satellite Launch Services are the primary driver. The others are defense Contracts, vaya Advanced Machining and hybrid Rocket Engine Sales.
Who are Vaya Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace, ABL Space Systems, Astra Space, Ursa Major Technologies and Phantom Space Corporation. Emerging players are Relativity Space and Impulse Space. Broad incumbents are SpaceX and Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital Sciences / Orbital ATK).
Does Vaya Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vaya Space.
What industry is Vaya Space in?
Vaya Space's product category is Space Launch and Hybrid Rocket Propulsion. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial). Its NAICS code is 336415 and its SIC code is 3760.