Enabling Bolder Missions
Bolstering commercial space growth and the defense industrial base as the leading source of world-class propulsion systems.
About the Company
Ursa Major is the leading independent rocket propulsion provider and a critical player in building the defense industrial base in the United States.
As the first American company to fire an oxygen-rich staged combustion engine—a milestone previously only achieved by Russian engine-makers—Ursa Major provides reusable, high-performing propulsion systems to commercial space enterprises, defense contractors, and the Department of Defense for launch, hypersonics, and national security missions.
Why propulsion?
It is notoriously difficult, slow, and expensive—and the most likely cause of launch failure.
Our focus leads to technology that can up to double launch capacity and solve supply chain risks at a lower cost.
Manufactured using 3D printing for scalable production, Ursa Major propulsion systems save customers an average of five years and $50 million compared to building propulsion in-house.
History
Founded in 2015 by former SpaceX and Blue Origin propulsion engineer Joe Laurienti, Ursa Major has been pushing aerospace and defense forward ever since.
Dec 2024
Successful solid rocket motor flight test with RTX
Aug 2024
Dan Jablonsky is hired as CEO
May 2024
5" Solid rocket motor "Wildcat" first static fire
Mar 2024
Hadley's first flight
Feb 2024
Began design for composite solid rocket motors
Feb 2024
Solid rocket motor campus expansion begins
May 2023
Introduced the Draper engine
Mar 2023
Redesigned 50,000-pound-thrust Ripley engine hotfires
Nov 2022
Hadley engines hotfire on two customer vehicles
Jun 2022
Introduced the Arroway engine
Jun 2020
Awarded first contract for hypersonics
Oct 2019
First Ripley engine built
Jun 2018
First customer engine complete
Feb 2017
First Hadley hotfire attempt
Oct 2016
Awarded first engine contract for a space launch vehicle
Our Facilities
Headquarters – Berthoud, Colorado
Our 90-acre headquarters co-locates engineering, manufacturing, & testing operations, allowing for unmatched development time and rapid iteration. With multiple full-engine test stands, sub-component testing, multi-propellant testing, and more than 60,000 square feet of manufacturing and build space, we’re proud to call Colorado home.
Advanced Manufacturing Lab – Youngstown, Ohio
As part of the Youngstown Business Incubator, our Ohio facility is home to 3D printing of proprietary copper alloys. There, we manage in-house additive manufacturing for rapid prototyping, research, and development for future products, and low rate of initial production.
