Reflect Orbital Raises $73.5M in Funding to Advance Space Technology

Reflect Orbital, a Hawthorne, California-based space infrastructure company, has raised $73.5 million in a funding round, bringing its total funding to more than $100 million.

The round included existing investors Sequoia Capital, Lux Capital and Starship Ventures, along with new investors Buckley Ventures, Convective Capital, The Uncommon Group and Salesforce Ventures.

The company will use the funding to support its initial satellite launches, continue developing its orbital reflector technology and expand commercial partnerships across the energy and lighting sectors.

What is Reflect Orbital?

Founded in 2021, Reflect Orbital is developing technology designed to redirect sunlight from orbit to specific locations on Earth.

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Its orbital reflectors aim to deliver sunlight where and when it is needed. The technology could help solar farms generate electricity after sunset and provide additional lighting for search-and-rescue teams working in disaster zones.

The company is also exploring applications that could help construction crews work more safely after dark.

How Much Funding Has Reflect Orbital Raised?

Reflect Orbital has raised more than $100 million in total funding following its latest $73.5 million round.

The company did not disclose the size or date of its previous funding rounds. Its earlier investors include Sequoia Capital, Lux Capital and Starship Ventures.

Who Invested in Reflect Orbital’s Latest Funding Round?

The latest funding round included both existing and new investors.

Existing investors:

• Sequoia Capital
• Lux Capital
• Starship Ventures

New investors:

• Buckley Ventures
• Convective Capital
• The Uncommon Group
• Salesforce Ventures

Why the Funding Matters

Reflect Orbital will use the capital to advance its orbital reflector technology and prepare for its initial satellite launches.

The funding will also support commercial partnerships in the energy and lighting sectors as the company works towards testing its technology in orbit.

Who founded Reflect Orbital?

Reflect Orbital was founded in 2021 by Ben Nowack and Tristan Semmelhack. The company is headquartered in Hawthorne, California.

“We’ve made substantial progress on our journey to deliver net new, clean solar energy to a world that urgently needs it,” said Ben Nowack, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Reflect Orbital. “This includes several firsts, from numerous technological breakthroughs to our upcoming test missions.

Market and Business Growth

Reflect Orbital is developing a production process for its satellite technology. The company says it builds a large reflector quadrant every 3.5 days during production. Each quadrant is designed to be 28 times thinner than a human hair and can fold down to the size of a shoebox.

The company also produces a four-boom deployable structure each week to keep the mirrors under tension. It says it can build a 12,000-part satellite from scratch every two months.

Reflect Orbital has secured additional launch opportunities for 2027 and recently announced the purchase of two dedicated launches with Skyroot Aerospace.

What Happens Next?

Reflect Orbital is preparing for its next satellite development and launch milestones.

The company has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a developmental satellite designed to test its spacecraft and communications payload, subject to regulatory approval.

Its first demonstration mission, which has received FCC approval, is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2027. The mission will collect data on how orbital reflectors deploy and perform in Low Earth Orbit.

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