Lithuania's Blackswan raises $2.9M for in-space refueling tech
What's the deal? Lithuania's Blackswan SpaceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised $2.9 million in a seed round to develop its rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) payload. Orbit Fab plans to use the technology for Europe's first in-space refueling demonstration in 2028.
Why it matters? RPO tech lets one spacecraft approach and dock with another — the foundation for satellite servicing, refueling, and debris removal. Blackswan's payload is central to bringing that capability to European orbit.
By the numbers: The round sits in the 96th percentile among 51 seed rounds raised by hardware startups in Lithuania, making it one of the country's larger hardware seed deals to date.
The signal: In-orbit servicing is moving from concept to scheduled missions, and a 2028 refueling demo gives Europe a concrete stake in the market. Small-nation startups like Blackswan are increasingly winning roles in that supply chain.
Read more: spacenews.com
Image credit: beltz6
