Longshot Space
Digital Sovereignty
Developer of a ground-based kinetic 'space gun' (multi-injection accelerator) for hypersonic testing and eventual low-cost orbital launch; ~$20M raised, US Air Force-backed.
Longshot is developing a ground-based kinetic launch system — a 'space gun' that uses a multi-injection pneumatic accelerator to push payloads to hypersonic speeds cheaply, with a long-term path to orbital launch. Its breakthrough is 'side injection': firing gas in from the sides against a tapered tail so the impact surface moves at only a fraction of the projectile's speed, multiplying achievable velocity. Longshot has demonstrated a prototype accelerator that exceeds Mach 4 across 100+ tests and is building a larger test gun designed to push 100 kg payloads above Mach 5. It targets defence hypersonic testing (missile defence, MACH-TB) and ultimately low-cost orbital mass delivery — targeting costs as low as $10/kg versus roughly $6,000/kg on a Falcon 9 rideshare.
Research mapping
Digital Sovereignty / Critical Infrastructure Protection / A
Evidence boundary
Original analysis and independent corroboration remain under development. Commercial scale and durable technical advantage remain under review.
What makes it defensible
Precise side-injection gas timing enables kinetic launch to scale from Mach 4 toward orbital velocity — the technique that makes ground-based launch viable at ~$10/kg.
Position in the stack: Ground-launch infrastructure provider replacing expendable rockets with reusable kinetic accelerators for hypersonic testing and, ultimately, orbital mass delivery.
Who buys it
Founding team
Mike Grace — Founder & CEO — Background in economics; former astrobiology intern at NASA; co-founded Longshot ~2020/21
Nato Saichek — Co-founder & CTO — Co-founded Longshot with Mike Grace; co-inventor of the side-injection kinetic-launch technique
SourceFinancing detail
- Last round
- Series A+
Investors: Sam Altman; Tim Draper; Dwarkesh Patel; aerospace/defense investors
Mapped funds and investors
Direct relationships supported by published evidence.
Reported holdings as-of
No sourced relationships mapped yet.
Disclosed investment history
No sourced relationships mapped yet.
Showing up to four relationships in each group. ETF weights describe the fund’s portfolio, not ownership of this company. Private investment history does not establish current ownership.
Evidence & media
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Investing in a Longshot
What this source supports: Investor South Park Commons describes Longshot's side-injection technique and $5M investment; total funding $20M.
What it does not establish: Investor first-party; technical claims not independently verified.
Source