Torrance, California, is not a typical defense hub. But it is where Mike Smayda, a former SpaceX senior aerodynamics engineer, has raised $38 million to build a new kind of spacecraft. His startup, Fortastra, is not chasing the crowded constellations of Earth-imaging or broadband satellites. Its product is security, delivered physically, in orbit [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF].
Fortastra’s spacecraft are designed to be agile, autonomous bodyguards. They can identify, approach, and respond to threats or support vulnerable satellites, a capability known as rendezvous and proximity operations [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. The company has already launched two demonstration missions to validate this technology, including one on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission in October 2026 [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. For government and commercial operators watching a congested and contested orbital environment, the pitch is straightforward. Fortastra sells protection.
A wedge in physical security
Most new space ventures sell data or connectivity. Fortastra’s initial wedge is the spacecraft itself, acting as a mobile sentry. The company builds small, precise vehicles with advanced guidance, navigation, control, and propulsion systems [Los Angeles Times, January 2026]. This hardware is paired with autonomy and sensing software, creating a platform for on-orbit security [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. The target customers are a mix of U.S. and allied government agencies, notably the Space Force, and commercial satellite operators with high-value assets [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. It is a pure B2B and B2G model, with no consumer-facing product. The bet is that as orbital infrastructure becomes more critical, the demand for its active defense will become non-negotiable.
The team pulling from SpaceX and Hermeus
Founder and CEO Mike Smayda spent five years at SpaceX, working on Falcon landing systems and early Starship architecture [addtheegg.com]. He was also a co-founder and the Chief Product Officer of hypersonic aircraft startup Hermeus [Hermeus]. That pedigree has helped attract talent from some of the most notable names in advanced manufacturing and aerospace. Fortastra has hired executives and senior personnel from Relativity Space, Hermeus, Astrion, and Divergent Technologies [SpaceNews].
The leadership build-out has been strategic, focusing on engineering, product, and government relations. Key appointments include Josh Jetter, a former Relativity senior, and Arnold Nowinski as Vice President of People [Los Angeles Times, April 2026] [SatNews, April 2026]. Perhaps most telling for its defense ambitions, the company tapped a 20-year Space Force veteran to lead its national-security product strategy [Morningstar, August 2026].
| Name | Role | Prior Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Smayda | Founder & CEO | SpaceX senior aerodynamics engineer, Hermeus co-founder & CPO |
| Josh Jetter | Leadership Team | Relativity Space |
| Arnold Nowinski | VP of People | 25+ years in civil & defense HR |
| Unnamed executive | National Security Product Strategy | 20-year Space Force veteran |
Funding a hardware-heavy roadmap
Building and launching spacecraft is capital intensive. Fortastra’s funding timeline shows investors backing the thesis early and then doubling down. The company closed a seed round of more than $8 million in December 2025, led by Upfront Ventures [Payload Space, December 2025]. Less than a year later, in October 2026, it secured a $30 million Series A led by First In [Via Satellite, October 2026]. The total disclosed financing sits at approximately $38 million [Bloomberg, October 2026].
The investor syndicate blends experienced venture firms with specialists in defense and space. Upfront Ventures and Generational Partners participated in the seed. The Series A brought in Space Capital, Rsquared, Side Door Ventures, and ATX Venture Partners alongside existing backers [Via Satellite, October 2026]. The capital is earmarked for accelerating its on-orbit security platform, implying further spacecraft production, launch campaigns, and software development.
Dec 2025 Seed | 8 | M USD
Oct 2026 Series A | 30 | M USD
The counterfactual: a long road to revenue
The ambition is clear, but the path to sustainable revenue is long and fraught. Fortastra operates in a market defined by long sales cycles, especially on the government side. While it has been selected for the U.S. Space Force’s Adaptive and Intelligent Space Challenge [Bloomberg, October 2026], a challenge award is not a procurement contract. The company has not disclosed any named commercial customers or contract values. Success depends on converting demonstration missions and strategy hires into paid deployment agreements, a process measured in years, not quarters.
The competitive landscape, while not named in sources, is also evolving. Larger defense primes and other venture-backed space logistics companies are developing similar on-orbit servicing and inspection capabilities. Fortastra’s answer likely rests on three pillars:
- Founder credibility. Smayda’s SpaceX and Hermeus track record attracts talent and investor patience.
- Team density. The concentration of hires from top-tier aerospace firms suggests deep operational know-how.
- Early validation. Two on-orbit demos, including one on a SpaceX rideshare, prove basic capability and reduce technical risk.
What to watch next
The next twelve months will be about transitioning from technology demonstrator to credible service provider. Key milestones will include securing a first major government or commercial contract, announcing further launch partnerships, and potentially disclosing the design of its next-generation spacecraft. The $30 million Series A provides a multi-year runway to pursue these goals without an immediate need to raise again.
For a company building bodyguards in space, the market signal is getting louder. The $38 million in backing from Upfront Ventures, First In, and Space Capital is a bet that the orbital environment needs a new layer of active defense. The question for operators is not if, but when, they will need a Fortastra spacecraft on their flank.
Sources
- [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF] Fortastra company and product overview
- [Los Angeles Times, January 2026] Fortastra: $8M Seed Round for Maneuverable Spacecraft | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/banking-finance/story/2026-01-05/fortastra-8-million-seed-funding-torrance
- [addtheegg.com] Mike Smayda background at SpaceX
- [Hermeus] Mike Smayda background at Hermeus
- [SpaceNews] Relativity, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent executives join Fortastra C-suite
- [SatNews, April 2026] Arnold Nowinski joins Fortastra
- [Morningstar, August 2026] Fortastra hires 20-year Space Force veteran
- [Payload Space, December 2025] Exclusive: Fortastra Lands $8M Seed to Develop Orbital Defense Sats | https://payloadspace.com/fortastra-lands-8m-seed-to-develop-orbital-defense-sats/
- [Via Satellite, October 2026] On-Orbit Security Startup Fortastra Raises $30M in Series A | https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/10/08/on-orbit-security-startup-fortastra-raises-30m-in-series-a/
- [Bloomberg, October 2026] Defense Startup Fortastra Raises $30 Million to Launch ‘Bodyguards in Space’ | https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-08/fortastra-raises-30-million-to-launch-bodyguards-in-space