Juno Propulsion lands $1.2M NSF grant for non-toxic space propulsion
What's the deal? The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.2 million grant to Tukwila, Washington-based Juno PropulsionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to develop a non-toxic propulsion system for in-space use. The two-year Phase II grant, funded through the NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, follows a $275,000 Phase I award in 2024.
What's the endgame? Juno is building its Product Development Unit, which uses rotating detonation rocket engine technology. By pairing high-efficiency propulsion with non-toxic propellants, it aims to let spacecraft maneuver farther and faster while cutting the risks tied to traditional toxic propellants.
The grant work will run in partnership with the University of Washington and Professor Carl Knowlen's lab. The goal is to advance the system to Technology Readiness Level 8 — near production-ready on the standard 1-to-9 scale.
Why now? Juno is preparing for Project Iris, an on-orbit demonstration due to fly aboard Momentus'Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → Vigoride 8 satellite platform in 2027. Lessons from that flight will feed directly into work on the Product Development Unit.
The startup was founded in 2023 by chief executive officer Alexis Harroun and chief technology officer Ari Martinez, who met while earning their PhDs at Purdue University. In June, Juno closed a $1.4 million pre-seed round led by SOSV, with participation from Hypernova FundDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Leslie VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, ActivateDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Collaborative Fund, Safar PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Cape Fear VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
"This award represents an important milestone in taking our rotating detonation propulsion technology from development and flight demonstration toward a production-ready product," Harroun said in a news release.
The signal: Non-dilutive grants like this one give hardware startups room to mature capital-intensive technology before commercial deployment. For Juno, the NSF funding bridges early flight demonstrations and a product it hopes to sell to commercial and government customers.
Read more: geekwire.com
Image credit: Juno Propulsion Inc.
