Stellar Alpina secures €160K from Venture Kick for in-space propulsion

Zurich-based
space technology startup Stellar Alpina has secured €160,000 (CHF 150,000) from
Venture Kick to advance its compact rocket engine technology for in-space
propulsion.

Founded by Rick Röthlisberger, Simi Y. Wespi, Victor Elliesen and Patrick Egli, Stellar Alpina
emerged from ARIS, the Academic Spaceflight Initiative Switzerland, where
members of the team worked on advanced propulsion technology in 2024.

The startup is
developing rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs) designed to provide
smaller, lighter and more efficient propulsion for spacecraft operating after
launch. As access to space becomes more frequent, satellites and other
spacecraft increasingly need to change orbits, reposition and travel beyond
Earth orbit. Conventional rocket engines can add significant weight and
complexity, limiting the capabilities of in-space vehicles.

Stellar Alpina’s
technology uses continuously rotating, supersonic combustion waves to generate
thrust. The company says this approach can improve efficiency while reducing
engine size and complexity, potentially supporting orbital transfers, satellite
repositioning and inspection, as well as future in-space infrastructure and
deep-space missions.

The Venture Kick
funding will be used to expand the startup’s testing infrastructure, conduct
further hotfire campaigns and advance the development of its first flight
engine.