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Orbital Operations
YC W25Los Angeles, US · Founded 2024 · Delaware corporation · 10 employees · Hiring · 23 known investors
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Orbital Ops develops propulsion systems and related aerospace hardware for airborne vehicles. The company draws on deep expertise in turbomachinery and propulsion integration.
Also known as Orbital Ops
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W25)
Orbital Operations was founded in 2024 by Ben Schleuniger, Ross Doherty, and Hunter.
Investors · 23
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Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$519.5K disclosed across 1 round · 2025
▶$519.5KraisedFeb 2025 · 6 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Ross DohertyDirector
- Benjamin SchleunigerExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $1M
- Amount sold
- $519.5K
- Proceeds to insiders
- $300K
- First sale
- Jan 2025
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2024
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
The YC application· Winter 2025 batch
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Orbital Operations (also presented as Orbital Ops) develops orbital maneuvering vehicles positioned for defense applications in space. Its stated flagship program is Astraeus, a vehicle intended to perform intercept, defense, and repositioning maneuvers across regimes from low Earth orbit to cislunar space, with transit times the company describes in hours rather than months. The company also advertises payload hosting capacity and LEO-GEO-LEO delivery capability, and characterizes its vehicles in terms of thrust, payload mass, delivery mass, and delta-v.
Public-facing material centers on propulsion and cryogenic fluid management, including liquid hydrogen as a propellant and technologies for active cooling and long-duration propellant storage. The company publishes updates organized around defense, milestones toward Astraeus, and technology topics, and offers a partnership and contact pathway for prospective customers and collaborators.
Latest developments
The website's news section features an announcement that Orbital Operations raised $8.8M to build a high-thrust vehicle for satellite defense, along with posts on milestones toward the Astraeus vehicle and on the rationale for using liquid hydrogen.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market
Market position
Orbital Operations positions itself around rapid, high-delta-v orbital maneuvering for defense missions, contrasting hours-scale repositioning with conventional timelines measured in months.
Technology
The company's approach centers on high-thrust in-space propulsion paired with cryogenic propellant handling. Its site highlights liquid hydrogen as a propellant choice and cites tested and proven technologies for active cooling and propellant storage as the enabling elements for high delta-v maneuvering between low Earth orbit and cislunar orbit. Vehicle capability is described along the axes of thrust (lbf), hosted payload mass, LEO-GEO-LEO delivery mass, and delta-v.
Go-to-market
The company markets directly through its website, which references partners and provides a contact route for parties seeking to partner or get started with Orbital Operations.
Messaging is oriented toward defense-related space missions, emphasizing intercept, defense, and repositioning capabilities, alongside payload hosting and orbital delivery services for organizations seeking rapid maneuver in LEO through cislunar orbit.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Images
Related companies · 7
Companies working in the same space as Orbital Operations.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsA headline on the company's website announces a raise of $8.8M to develop a high-thrust vehicle for satellite defense.
$8.8M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 2
corporate structureIn the news
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Orbital Operationsorbitalops.tech · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Orbital Operations do?
- Orbital Operations builds Astraeus, a high-thrust orbital maneuvering vehicle for satellite defense and repositioning.
- Who founded Orbital Operations?
- Orbital Operations was founded by Ben Schleuniger, Ross Doherty, Hunter in 2024.
- Who are Orbital Operations's investors?
- Orbital Operations's investors include Alumni Ventures, Black Flag, Gaingels, GoAhead Ventures, Initialized Capital, Maiora Rebel Ventures, Olive Tree Capital, Rebel Fund and 15 more.
- How much funding has Orbital Operations raised?
- Orbital Operations has disclosed $519.5K raised across 1 round.
- Where is Orbital Operations headquartered?
- Orbital Operations is headquartered in Los Angeles, US.