A Cannon to the Cosmos
The core idea behind Longshot Space is both deceptively simple and wildly ambitious: replace the most expensive and fuel-intensive part of a rocket launch with a ground-based accelerator. Instead of burning millions of kilograms of propellant to fight
Earth's gravity, the Oakland-based startup is developing what is essentially a high-tech space gun. The concept, known as kinetic launch, isn't entirely new; it draws inspiration from historical projects like the 1960s Project HARP and even Germany's V-3 cannon from World War II. CEO Mike Grace argues that even reusable rockets are too expensive to build a true space-based economy. His goal is to move enormous amounts of material into orbit at the lowest possible cost, and he believes a giant gun is the way to do it.
The Physics of Flinging
So, how do you shoot something into space? Longshot's system uses a long tube and compressed gas. A payload is placed inside a projectile, which is then accelerated down the barrel. The innovation lies in the company's side-injection technique. Instead of a single explosive push from behind, precisely timed bursts of compressed gas are injected through ports along the side of the tube. These jets of gas push against a long, angled tail on the projectile, continuously adding speed. CTO Nathan Saichek compares it to squeezing a tube of toothpaste. Achieving the sub-millisecond timing required for this process is one of the company's key technical hurdles, solved with custom-built triggers. This multi-stage acceleration allows the projectile to travel faster than the gas itself, a critical trick to reaching hypersonic speeds.
The Promise and the Problems
The primary advantage is cost. Grace claims the system could eventually bring launch costs down to an astonishing $10 per kilogram. By keeping the complex machinery on the ground, the system is more like civil infrastructure than delicate aerospace hardware. In theory, multiple cannons could be fired repeatedly throughout the day from a single site, a feat impossible for traditional rockets. However, the challenges are immense. To reach orbit, a projectile needs to exit the barrel at around Mach 25—five times faster than the Mach 5 speeds the company is currently targeting with its test systems. The other major hurdle is payload survivability. The extreme acceleration creates immense G-forces that could destroy sensitive electronics. This means that, at least initially, the system would be best suited for rugged cargo like raw materials, water, or specially hardened satellites.
The Minds Behind the Mission
Longshot Space was founded in 2020 by CEO Mike Grace and CTO Nathan Saichek. Grace, who has a background in genetics and economics, previously interned at NASA's Ames Research Center. Saichek brings two decades of experience from various aerospace startups. The duo started the company with just $30,000 from friends and family, building their first prototype from PVC pipe. Their work has since attracted significant attention and funding, including from the U.S. Air Force and prominent venture capitalists like Sam Altman. The company has raised approximately $8 million in combined funding and operates out of a former auto shop in Oakland and a test facility at a former Navy site in Alameda.
Next Stop: Hypersonic Testing
The path to orbit is a long one. To bridge the gap and generate revenue, Longshot is strategically targeting the hypersonic testing market. The U.S. military currently spends millions per test for hypersonic weapons components, and Longshot believes it can offer the same service for a fraction of the cost—around $150,000 to $250,000 per launch. The company is developing a hypersonic glide vehicle called Glowrider, designed to be launched from its accelerator. Success in this market would not only provide crucial funding but also validate the core technology at smaller scales. The company has plans to build a much larger, 1,600-foot accelerator in Nevada for this purpose, with the ultimate vision being a 10 to 15-kilometer-long orbital launch tube, possibly located in a remote area like northern Australia.
