Co-CEO
Letara
Letara develops hybrid rocket engines that use common plastics as fuel, offering a safer and more cost-effective alternative to conventional liquid or solid propulsion systems. The company's patented ignition and thrust control technologies enable stable, high-thrust combustion in engines compact enough for small satellites, launch vehicles, and defense applications. Letara has secured orders from rocket and satellite companies as well as the Japanese government, with an in-orbit demonstration planned for 2026.
- Aerospace
- Defense Tech
- Hardware
Updated 2 months ago
Funding
Raised to date
¥4.1BRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Est. $27.1Macross 3 rounds
ANAAAC+14¥2.6B · Series A
Announced Aug 2026 · from article date
Disclosed cumulative: $27.1M
3/3
RoundDateAmountValuationInvestors
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional rocket propulsion systems rely on explosive liquid or solid propellants, which introduce significant safety risks, high handling costs, and complex manufacturing requirements. These factors limit the accessibility and affordability of space launch and in-orbit operations, particularly for smaller satellites and emerging space applications.
Solution
Letara provides hybrid rocket engines that use common, commercially available plastic as fuel, stored separately from the oxidizer to avoid the explosive classification of traditional propellants. The company's proprietary fuel design and manufacturing approach, developed at Hokkaido University, enables stable end-to-end combustion for high thrust and consistent performance comparable to conventional solid or liquid systems. A patented ignition system ensures reliable firing even at low power, while the engines are miniaturized to palm-sized units suitable for a wide range of small systems. This design supports low-cost, mass-producible engines that reduce fuel handling costs by up to 60% and are versatile across satellite launch, on-orbit propulsion, and defense applications.
Target Audience
Primary customers include rocket and satellite manufacturers, government space agencies, and defense and security organizations seeking safe, low-cost propulsion solutions for launch, orbital transfer, and in-space operations.
Features
- Hybrid propulsion architecture using plastic fuel and nitrous oxide oxidizer, eliminating explosive propellant classification
- Patented ignition system that fires reliably at low power for stable combustion and high thrust
- Proprietary fuel design enabling uniform end-to-end burn for performance on par with conventional solid or liquid engines
- Palm-sized engine form factor compatible with small satellites and compact launch systems
- Use of commercially available plastics for simplified supply chains and mass production scalability
- Multiple reignition capability for rapid orbital transfers and precise in-space maneuvering