Cowboy Space Raises $275M for Orbital Data Centers
Cowboy Space, founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, secured $275 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures, achieving a $2 billion valuation. Formerly Aetherflux, the company pivoted from space-based solar power to developing orbital data centers and proprietary rockets. This vertical integration aims to address terrestrial AI computing constraints by launching data centers into low Earth orbit. Cowboy plans to demonstrate wireless power beaming soon and target its first independent rocket launch with a one-megawatt data center by 2028, competing directly with major aerospace firms.
Editorial summary awaiting refresh
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Robinhood Cofounder Baiju Bhatt Plans Orbital Data Centers via Cowboy Space
Cowboy Space Corporation, founded by Robinhood cofounder Baiju Bhatt, has raised $275 million at a $2 billion valuation to develop orbital data centers. The company aims to launch 20,000 space-based facilities by the end of 2028 to address the growing energy and water demands of AI infrastructure on Earth. Unlike traditional satellite designs, Cowboy plans to house 1 MW of computing chips directly within the upper stage of its rockets, leveraging continuous sunlight in specific orbits for maximal power efficiency. This approach aims to reduce mass and launch costs while eliminating redundancies. However, aerospace experts highlight significant challenges, particularly regarding heat dissipation from high-performance GPUs in a vacuum. Bhatt asserts that using the spacecraft fairing as a radiator will solve thermal issues. The ambitious timeline has drawn skepticism from researchers who note the rapid deployment schedule compared to historical commercial space developments. Despite these hurdles, Cowboy has recruited veteran aerospace engineers to accelerate production. This initiative reflects a broader trend among tech giants like Google and SpaceX to explore space as a viable solution for sustainable, high-capacity computing infrastructure amidst rising terrestrial energy costs.
Forbes - BusinessCowboy Space Files for 20,000-Satellite Constellation for Orbital Data Centers
Cowboy Space, recently rebranded from Aetherflux, has filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval to deploy a 20,000-satellite constellation named Stampede. This move follows a $275 million Series B funding round. The company aims to provide data center services from space, leveraging optical inter-satellite links and solar power to meet the high computational demands of AI while bypassing Earth's constrained power grid and infrastructure delays. Cowboy Space argues that placing silicon next to sunlight offers a strategic advantage for US leadership in space innovation. The company is seeking a waiver from standard FCC deployment milestones, asserting that its optical-based system does not risk spectrum warehousing and can begin commercial operations with just one satellite. Unlike competitors SpaceX and Starcloud, which are planning much larger constellations, Cowboy Space plans a progressive launch strategy starting in 2028. Founded in 2024 by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, the company integrates its payload design with the upper stage of its launch vehicles to optimize efficiency.
Via SatelliteCowboy Space Files FCC Plans for 20,000-Satellite Orbital Data Center Constellation
Cowboy Space, a startup founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy a 20,000-satellite constellation named "Stampede." This network aims to create orbital data centers in low Earth orbit (LEO), leveraging continuous solar energy to overcome power and infrastructure limitations faced by terrestrial facilities. The company recently raised $275 million to develop rockets, with upper stages serving as computing platforms. Planned for dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbits between 700 and 1,000 kilometers, the system will utilize optical communications and NVIDIA AI computing modules. Cowboy seeks waivers from standard FCC deployment timelines and radio frequency rules. While commercial operations could start with a single satellite, full launches are scheduled to begin in 2028. This initiative positions Cowboy alongside competitors like SpaceX and Blue Origin in the emerging space-based computing sector, aiming to maintain US leadership in space innovation while addressing the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence.
SpaceNewsAetherflux Rebrands as Cowboy Space, Raises $275M for Orbital Data Centers
Aetherflux, the space technology company founded by former Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has officially rebranded as Cowboy Space. The company announced a significant strategic pivot from its original focus on space-based power to developing orbital data centers and associated launch infrastructure. To support this expansion, Cowboy Space secured a $275 million Series B funding round led by Index Ventures, valuing the company at $2 billion. Other notable investors include IVP, Blossom Capital, SAIC, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Andreessen Horowitz. Cowboy Space is developing a Low-Earth Orbit constellation named 'Stampede,' designed to harness solar power for on-orbit computing. A key innovation is their unified launch vehicle design, where the rocket's upper stage functions directly as a 1-megawatt data center in orbit. The company plans to utilize Nvidia Space-1 Vera Rubin Modules for its satellite hardware. Cowboy Space aims to launch its first demonstration satellite later in 2026 to test power beaming capabilities from space to Earth, marking a distinct departure from traditional constellation models through its first-principles design approach.
Via SatelliteRobinhood Co-Founder's Cowboy Space Raises $275M for Orbital Data Centers and Rockets
Cowboy Space, a startup founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has successfully secured $275 million in funding to develop orbital data centers and manufacture its own rockets. Previously known as Aetherflux, the company recently rebranded to reflect its ambitious strategic pivot towards space-based infrastructure. The newly raised capital will support the development of advanced technologies required to place data centers in orbit, aiming to leverage the unique environment of space for computing purposes. Additionally, the company is investing heavily in proprietary rocket technology to ensure independent launch capabilities. Cowboy Space has set a target to execute its first rocket launch before the end of 2028. This significant investment highlights growing investor interest in the commercial space sector, particularly in ventures that combine satellite technology with cloud computing infrastructure. The move positions Cowboy Space as a notable competitor in the emerging market for space-based data services, challenging established players by integrating vertical manufacturing with service deployment. The announcement underscores the increasing convergence of traditional tech entrepreneurship with aerospace engineering.
QuartzRobinhood Co-Founder Baiju Bhatt’s Cowboy Space Raises $275 Million for Orbital Data Centers
Cowboy Space Corp., a space technology startup founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has successfully raised $275 million in a Series B funding round. Led by Index Ventures, the investment values the company at $2 billion and includes participation from Blossom Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Andreessen Horowitz. Previously known as Aetherflux, the San Carlos-based firm rebranded and unveiled a strategic pivot to build data centers in orbit using its own proprietary rockets. This ambitious plan aims to address limited launch capacity and ensure operational independence, positioning Cowboy Space against industry giants like SpaceX and Blue Origin. While the company originally focused on space-based solar energy, it maintains plans to launch a satellite via SpaceX later this year. The target date for Cowboy Space’s first independent rocket launch is set for 2028. Bhatt emphasized that controlling their own launch infrastructure is critical for the company's destiny, despite challenges faced by competitors. This development highlights growing investor interest in commercial space infrastructure and orbital computing solutions.
Financial PostCowboy Space Raises $275 Million to Build Rockets for Orbital Data Centers
Cowboy Space Corporation has secured $275 million in Series B funding, led by Index Ventures, to develop proprietary rockets aimed at launching data centers into orbit. The company, founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, pivoted from its original concept of space-based solar energy to orbital AI computing due to economic realities. A primary challenge driving this strategy is the scarcity and high cost of current launch capabilities, with major providers like SpaceX and Blue Origin facing delays or prioritizing internal payloads. While competitors target the mid-2030s or edge processing, Cowboy Space aims for its first launch by late 2028. This vertical integration allows the company to control launch costs and scale its orbital data center business, directly competing with established aerospace giants. The funding round values the company at $2 billion post-money, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Construct Capital, IVP, and SAIC. Bhatt argues that the insatiable demand for AI compute and limited terrestrial options create a significant market opportunity for specialized space infrastructure, despite the immense technical hurdles of developing a new launch vehicle.
TechCrunchCowboy Space Raises $275 Million for Orbital Data Center Rockets
Cowboy Space, a startup formerly known as Aetherflux, has secured $275 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures, achieving a $2 billion valuation. The company plans to develop rockets with upper stages that function as data centers in low Earth orbit (LEO) once deployed. This strategic pivot from space-based solar power aims to address the growing energy and cooling constraints of terrestrial AI infrastructure. Founder and CEO Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, stated that the venture has raised approximately $365 million total. Cowboy distinguishes itself by integrating launch vehicles and data center payloads into a single unit to optimize mass and power efficiency, unlike rivals relying on third-party launchers. The company intends to launch a small satellite later this year to demonstrate wireless power beaming via infrared lasers. Following this, Cowboy aims to deploy its first 'Galactic Brain' AI compute node early next year using NVIDIA modules. The ultimate goal is to launch a proprietary rocket carrying a one-megawatt data center by 2028, capitalizing on the surging demand for orbital computing resources driven by the AI industry.
SpaceNews