Orbital Energy Firm Mantis Space Raises $10M in Seed Funding

The startup aims to build a constellation that generates and transmits solar power to satellites in the Earth's shadow.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:54pm

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Orbital energy startup Mantis Space has emerged from stealth mode with a $10 million seed funding round led by Rule 1 Ventures and Montauk Capital. The company plans to build a constellation that continuously generates and transmits solar power to satellites in the Earth's shadow, allowing them to remain in revenue-generating mission areas instead of chasing sunlight.

Why it matters

Mantis Space's technology could help address the power constraints that limit the performance of satellites, sensors, broadband networks, and other space-based assets. By providing a reliable source of orbital power, the company aims to enable more efficient and effective space operations.

The details

Mantis Space was co-founded by Eric Truitt, a U.S. Navy veteran who previously co-founded satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital, Hugh Wyman Howard III, a retired Navy rear admiral, and Jeremy Scheerer, a former program manager at the U.S. Air Force. The company's leadership team also includes Chief Engineer John Sandusky, who has worked on optical engineering projects at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, and Chief Optical Engineer Greg Brady, who has held lead roles at Apple and on the James Webb Space Telescope.

  • Mantis Space emerged from stealth and announced the $10 million seed funding round on March 12, 2026.

The players

Mantis Space

An orbital energy startup that aims to build a constellation of satellites to continuously generate and transmit solar power to other satellites in the Earth's shadow.

Eric Truitt

Co-founder and CEO of Mantis Space, a U.S. Navy veteran who previously co-founded satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital.

Hugh Wyman Howard III

Co-founder, chairman, and Chief Strategy Officer of Mantis Space, a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Navy who served for 32 years, including as director of operations of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Jeremy Scheerer

Co-founder and COO of Mantis Space, a former program manager for foreign military sales at the U.S. Air Force who also led research and development programs at Georgia Tech Research Institute.

John Sandusky

Chief Engineer at Mantis Space, with experience working on optical engineering projects at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Accent Optical, and Sandia National Laboratories.

Greg Brady

Chief Optical Engineer at Mantis Space, with experience in lead roles working on Apple's Face ID system and the James Webb Space Telescope.

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What they’re saying

“We are at the beginning of a space infrastructure supercycle. Launch has scaled. Manufacturing has scaled. But performance in orbit is still constrained by physics. Every asset going up whether it's a defense sensor, a broadband satellite, or an orbital compute node has the same power problem. We're building the grid that makes all of it work.”

— Eric Truitt, Co-founder and CEO, Mantis Space (satellitetoday.com)

What’s next

The funding will support hiring and go-to-market operations for Mantis Space from the company's new headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The takeaway

Mantis Space's technology could help address a critical limitation in the space industry by providing a reliable source of power for satellites and other space-based assets, enabling more efficient and effective space operations.