Latitude
Latitude is a French space technology company developing the Zephyr smallsat launch vehicle with in-house 3D-printed Navier engines, targeting dedicated commercial launches from 2027 for satellite operators, constellation companies, and European space agencies from French Guiana and Oman.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersReims, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Latitude does
Latitude SAS, founded in 2019 in Reims, France as Venture Orbital Systems and rebranded in 2022, is a space technology company developing the Zephyr small satellite launch vehicle. The 19-meter, 1.5-meter-diameter two-stage rocket is designed to deliver payloads of up to 200 kg to Low Earth Orbit with flexible orbital inclinations from 5.3° to 105°. Propulsion is provided by Latitude's in-house Navier engine family — fully 3D-printed LOx/RP-1 engines with seven clustered sea-level engines on the first stage and a vacuum-optimized variant on the second stage, including proprietary turbomachinery. Hardware is developed and validated at the Titan Research and Test Site at XCR Airport south of Reims, and the company operates a 25,000 sqm production facility in Reims.
Latitude's business model centers on selling dedicated SmallSat launch services, marketed under a fixed, transparent pricing structure with no resellers or intermediaries. The company employs an enterprise field sales motion via dedicated Mission Teams, targeting smallsat operators, constellation companies, and European space agencies. Two anchor customers are publicly disclosed: CNES as the first commercial flight customer and ATMOS for a minimum of five dedicated launches per year from 2028 to 2032. The company has secured two spaceports — Kourou in French Guiana and Etlaq in Oman (under 2026 LOI) — to support weekly launch cadence. The team numbers approximately 160 across engineering, operations, and support functions, and cumulative funding exceeds €50M across Series A (€10M, 2022), Series B (~$30M, 2024), and EIC Accelerator support (2024). Revenue is not yet generated, with the first commercial launch targeted for 2027.
Latitude firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Latitude
- Legal name
- Latitude SAS
- Website
- https://latitude.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Latitude is a French space technology company developing the Zephyr smallsat launch vehicle with in-house 3D-printed Navier engines, targeting dedicated commercial launches from 2027 for satellite operators, constellation companies, and European space agencies from French Guiana and Oman.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Latitude industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Satellite Launch Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rocket Engines (Liquid) (IMABADAE), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
Keywords
Where Latitude is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reims
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Latitude business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Dedicated SmallSat Launch Services: Providing dedicated launch services for small satellites (up to 200kg payload capacity) with flexible orbit inclinations from 5.3° to 105°. Revenue generated through launch service contracts with satellite operators, constellation companies, and space agencies. First commercial launch targeted for 2027.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Dedicated SmallSat launch service with flexible configuration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Latitude product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Latitude designs, manufactures, and operates the Zephyr small satellite launch vehicle, a 19-meter, LOX/RP-1 fueled rocket capable of placing up to 200 kg payloads into Low Earth Orbit at inclinations from 5.3° to 105°. The company sells dedicated Zephyr launch services to satellite operators, constellation companies, and space agencies under multi-year fixed-price contracts, with a target cadence of one launch per week. Hardware development and qualification are anchored by in-house 3D-printed Navier rocket engines, an integrated Auxiliary Propulsion System, and the independent Titan Research & Test Site near Reims.
Product overview
Latitude offers a unified small satellite launch solution centered on its Zephyr rocket, complemented by in-house developed Navier engines. The product portfolio consists of the Zephyr Launcher (a 200 kg payload capacity vehicle with flexible orbital reach), the Navier Engine family (3D-printed LOx-RP1 engines powering both stages), and launch services providing dedicated flights. The company operates the Titan Research & Test site for hardware validation, with first commercial launch targeted for 2027 from Kourou with subsequent launches planned from Oman.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zephyr Launcher A small satellite launch vehicle designed and built in France, 19 meters in length with a 1.5-meter diameter, using LOX/RP-1 propellant and a configurable payload fairing providing 1.04 to 3.6 m3 of usable volume. It is designed to carry up to 200 kg to Low Earth Orbit at inclinations from 5.3° to 105° and serves as the platform for Latitude's dedicated launch service offering.
- Zephyr Launch Services Dedicated small satellite launch service offering flights with a target cadence of one launch per week, flexible orbit inclinations from 5.3° to 105°, and fixed transparent pricing with no hidden costs. Service includes mission planning support, payload integration, and on-site launch support delivered by a dedicated Mission Team. Sold to satellite operators, constellation companies, and space agencies under multi-year fixed-price contracts.
- Navier Rocket Engines In-house designed and 3D-printed LOX/RP-1 rocket engine family that powers both stages of the Zephyr launcher, with a cluster of seven Navier Sea Level engines on the first stage and a vacuum-optimized Navier engine on the second stage. The engines include in-house developed turbomachinery and are validated at Latitude's Titan Research & Test Site.
Quantifiable outcome
- Weekly launch availability for small satellites (1 launch per week)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Latitude
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Latitude technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Latitude partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.
- Etlaq SpaceportcoreLetter of Intent signed for conducting first launch of Zephyr small launch vehicle from Oman in late 2027. Framework for collaboration on launch operations, ground infrastructure, regulatory coordination, and long-term commercial expansion. Positions Oman as potential regional aerospace hub leveraging near-equatorial location advantages.
- SiemensstrategicLatitude participates in Siemens for Startups Program, accessing industrial software including Xcelerator Marketplace. Early adopter using Siemens NX CAD, STAR-CCM+ CFD, and simulation tools for developing Zephyr launcher and additively manufactured Navier rocket engine.
- CNEScoreFrench space agency CNES is contracted as first commercial customer for Zephyr launcher initial flights. Listed as key partner in Latitude ecosystem alongside ESA.
- ESAstrategicEuropean Space Agency listed as partner in Latitude ecosystem, supporting European independent launch capabilities.
- GrandEstsupportingRegional council of Grand Est region in France providing support for aerospace development in the region.
- Alliance NewSpacesupportingFrench NewSpace industry alliance bringing together European space startups and stakeholders.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Latitude competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rocket Lab: Operating smallsat launcher (Electron) and developing larger Neutron; the dominant commercial dedicated smallsat launch provider globally. Directly comparable product (small launcher, dedicated missions) and customer base (constellation operators), though at a more mature scale.
- Isar Aerospace: German smallsat launch startup developing the Spectrum launcher targeting similar ~1 ton payload class. Closely comparable European competitor, similar funding stage, similar institutional backers, and similar pre-revenue operational profile.
- PLD Space: Spanish smallsat launcher developing Miura 1 and Miura 5 rockets. Direct competitor in the European smallsat launch market with similar payload class and customer overlap with constellation operators and institutional customers.
- MaiaSpace: French smallsat launch startup (subsidiary of ArianeGroup) developing a reusable mini-launcher. Direct European competitor with similar French ecosystem positioning and overlapping sovereign-customer demand.
- HyImpulse: German smallsat launch startup developing hybrid-propulsion launchers (SL1). Direct competitor in the European small launcher space, differentiated by propulsion technology but targeting the same smallsat operator customer base.
- Firefly Aerospace: US smallsat launch and in-space services company operating Alpha launcher. Directly comparable product offering (dedicated smallsat launch), with similar payload class targeting and customer base overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Arianespace: Incumbent European launch services provider operating Vega and Vega-C for small/medium payloads. Overlaps with Latitude in the institutional and smallsat market but operates a much broader launch portfolio and benefits from ArianeGroup parent backing.
- Avio: Italian aerospace company manufacturing the Vega family of small/medium launchers for Arianespace. Comparable launch vehicle manufacturing capability in the smallsat payload class, though operating as an incumbent supplier rather than a launch services startup.
Emerging players
- Relativity Space: US launch startup applying large-scale 3D printing to rocket manufacturing (Terran 1/Terran R). Comparable technology approach to Latitude's 3D-printed Navier engines and turbomachinery, though at a much larger payload class and broader launch services scope.
- Skyrora: UK-based smallsat launch startup developing the Skyrora XL orbital launch vehicle. Comparable emerging European small launcher targeting similar institutional and commercial smallsat customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Latitude social profiles
Digital presenceLatitude financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Latitude leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Latitude funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Latitude M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Latitude
What does Latitude do?
Latitude designs, manufactures, and operates the Zephyr small satellite launch vehicle, a 19-meter, LOX/RP-1 fueled rocket capable of placing up to 200 kg payloads into Low Earth Orbit at inclinations from 5.3° to 105°. The company sells dedicated Zephyr launch services to satellite operators, constellation companies, and space agencies under multi-year fixed-price contracts, with a target cadence of one launch per week. Hardware development and qualification are anchored by in-house 3D-printed Navier rocket engines, an integrated Auxiliary Propulsion System, and the independent Titan Research & Test Site near Reims.
Is Latitude a public or private company?
Latitude is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Latitude founded?
Latitude was founded in 2019. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Latitude based?
Latitude is headquartered in Reims, France, in the Europe region.
How does Latitude make money?
One revenue line is on record: dedicated SmallSat Launch Services.
Who are Latitude's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rocket Lab, Isar Aerospace, PLD Space, MaiaSpace, HyImpulse and Firefly Aerospace. Broad incumbents are Arianespace and Avio. Emerging players are Relativity Space and Skyrora.
Does Latitude have an API?
No public API is recorded for Latitude.
What industry is Latitude in?
Latitude's product category is Small Satellite Launch Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABADAE, Rocket Engines (Liquid). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.