Turion Space Corp., which aims to clean up space debris, has received $15 million in new funding as it pursues a much broader “galactic manifest destiny” with its next mission slated for March.
Turion already has its DROID.001 satellite up, capturing images for government and commercial clients. Its data is now integrated with the U.S. Space Force’s Unified Data Library.
“We build and operate critical space infrastructure to unleash the potential of Earth orbit and accelerate our galactic manifest destiny,” Turion co-founder and Chief Executive Ryan Westerdahl told the Business Journal on Dec. 4.
His company has raised $26.5 million in venture capital to date, according to Westerdahl. It also boasts a $1.9 million U.S. Space Force contract to develop ways to clean up space debris, which now number an estimated 1 million pieces.
Turion is the latest of several Orange County-based companies looking to build satellites and explore space. Westerdahl says the company will also build the technology and financial foundation to mine speeding asteroids for platinum group metals, a step also being taken by AstroForge in Seal Beach (see separate article on this page).
The platinum group metals are used in products ranging from jewelry to catalytic converters in cars, electronics and cancer-fighting drugs.
Turion is developing a range of satellites that will perform critical satellite services, including the micro-Droid, set for a demonstration in 2026, which will be equipped with grapplers to capture orbiting junk. The spacecraft was co-funded by NASA.
Turion has received over $50 million in government contracts to date, Westerdahl says.
Veterans Ventures Capital, along with Forward Deployed VC, Aurelia Foundry, Y-Combinators and others invested $15 million in the oversubscribed Series A financing, Turion said earlier this month.
Veteran Ventures is veteran-owned growth-equity investment fund that invests in veteran entrepreneurs working at the nexus of national security and commercial technology businesses.
It says it “exclusively” invests in companies that have military veteran leadership, saying that experience, training and character translates into exceptional business acumen and success.
“Turion Space is developing the google earth for space observation and situational awareness,” Derren Burrell, managing partner of Veteran Ventures, said in a statement.
“The capabilities they are building for national security and commercial customers represent the kind of high-impact, dual-use technologies that aligns perfectly with VVC’s mission.
“Their work in advanced space domain awareness, through a specialization in non-earth imaging, addresses a growing concern for both national security and commercial operators.
Their technologies have the potential to transform how we manage space safety, particularly with space becoming more of a contested warfighting domain, making this a critical addition to our portfolio,” according to Burrell.
Expanding Satellite Fleet
While some of the advisers have a veterans background, the founders don’t list a military pedigree on their LinkedIn pages.
Westerdahl worked for more than eight years at SpaceX as a dynamics engineer.
Co-founder President Tyler Pierce’s resume includes time as an engineer at Lockheed Martin’s famous Skunk Works and ATA Engineering. Co-founder Patryk Wiatr’s background includes being a software engineer at Marshall Reddick Real Estate in Newport Beach.
The company’s advisors have extensive backgrounds in space, such as Martin Elvis, an astrophysicist who studies asteroid mining at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Thomas Cooley, who was the primary science adviser on space technology for the Air Force Research Laboratory; and Kevin O’Connell, who was director of the Office of Space Commerce for the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2018-21.
“To secure our future in space, Turion designs, builds and operates DROID satellites to address pressing National Security needs and provide solutions for orbital debris mitigation,” the company’s website says.
The company, which was founded in 2021, now has more than 70 employees. Turion was advertising for more than 45 positions, all of them in Irvine, as of Dec. 9. They included dynamics engineer, flight software engineer and lead propulsion engineer.
Turion is at the forefront of solving two of space’s most pressing capability gaps: space domain awareness and non-earth imaging, both critical to maintaining space operations and expanding in-space mobility, according to Veterans Ventures.
“Turion solves this through their first-of-its-kind Droid micro-satellites, equipped with advanced sensors to improve space situational awareness and mitigate debris at a fraction of the cost of its competitors,” it said. “The DROID.001 is currently operational with flight heritage, capturing non-earth images for government and commercial clients. These satellites, in 2024 alone, will have accomplished over 100 imaging missions.”
The currently orbiting satellite, DROID.001, weighs 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds).
The capital raised in the latest round will be used to expand Turion’s satellite fleet as they prepare to launch their DROID.002, a larger satellite with enhanced imaging capabilities, and the further development of autonomous docking and maneuvering systems that can deorbit defunct satellites and perform in-orbit repairs and inspections, Veteran Ventures said.
Manifest Destiny in Space?
Westerdahl’s catchy phrase “galactic manifest destiny” may ring a bell with readers who recall their American history classes.
In the mid-19th century, America’s rapid westward expansion was regarded as Manifest Destiny. More broadly the term refers to an “ostensibly benevolent or necessary policy of imperialistic expansion,” as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary.
The term fits Turion and other companies seeking to push the boundaries of outer space travel and exploration.
Turion is focused on four main areas:
• Space “domain awareness,” debris removal, protecting and defending existing infrastructure.
• Moving things around, space to ground data transport services, transporting propellant.
• Geospatial intelligence gathering / earth observation.
• Missile warning and missile tracking satellites to address the rising threat from hypersonic missiles.
With plans to produce 45 satellites annually by 2027, Turion is poised for growth. The company is based at 5 Technology Drive in Irvine.
“We are excited to partner with Veteran Ventures Capital precisely because their team and advisors have significant expertise in new space technology and the national security opportunities surrounding it,” said Turion CEO Westerdahl.
He added: “With their investment, we will further enhance our capabilities and provide innovative solutions for non-earth imaging, space debris removal and satellite servicing, addressing a critical need for both government and commercial operators.”
Turion Has Plenty of Local Company in Outer Space Push
Several local companies have been setting their sights on outer space.
AstroForge in Irvine wants to mine speeding asteroids for metals including the platinum group. Turion Corp. also is planning to develop the technology to make that happen.
Iceye in Irvine has developed satellites that can keep an eye on the Earth even when it’s night or cloud-covered.
Defense company Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa offers an array of high-tech tools, including expanding its AI-powered hardware and software into outer space for military users.
Virgin Galactic Holdings in Tustin will be resuming space tourism flights that stop a bit short of outer space.
Just over the Orange County line, Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) in Long Beach has become a major force in the rocket-launching industry.
