STELLAR ALPINA BUILDS DETONATION PROPULSION FOR SPACE MOBILITY

At Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, Stellar Alpina is developing rotating detonation rocket engines and modular in-space vehicle architectures for more efficient orbital mobility, high-energy transfers and future missions beyond Earth orbit.

«Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich gives us access to engineering talent, research networks and partners who understand hardware-driven innovation. For us, Dübendorf is a place where „proof of concepts“ can mature into real products and where passion can turn into progress that is felt around the world.»

Simi Wespi

Co-founder, Stellar AlpinaName

Access to space is expanding rapidly, but reaching orbit is only the beginning. Satellites, spacecraft and future exploration missions increasingly need efficient mobility after launch: to reposition in orbit, transfer to higher-energy destinations and support more complex mission architectures beyond Earth orbit. Stellar Alpina was founded to address this challenge with a new generation of propulsion systems based on rotating detonation rocket engines, known as RDREs.

Unlike conventional rocket engines, which rely on subsonic combustion, RDREs use supersonic detonation waves. This approach has the potential to extract more performance from the same amount of propellant, enabling engines that are smaller, lighter and more efficient. For spacecraft operators, this can translate into more flexible mission design, improved payload capacity and new options for orbital and deep-space mobility.

Founded in 2026 by four ARIS alumni, Stellar Alpina shows how Switzerland’s student and innovation ecosystems can translate technical ambition into commercial space infrastructure. Building on ARIS experience in advanced rocketry, the team moved from incorporation to its first test engine hotfire in just 82 days. The campaign included eight detonative hotfires and demonstrated up to five stable detonation waves, positioning Stellar Alpina among the first commercial actors in Europe to turn RDRE technology into tested hardware.

The company has raised CHF 3.5 million in pre-seed funding, grown to 13  employees and set an ambitious target of testing up to 28 engines or engine configurations in 2026. Beyond propulsion technology, Stellar Alpina is also developing modular in-space vehicle architectures designed for orbital mobility, high-energy transfers and future missions between worlds.

Headquartered at Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich in Dübendorf, Stellar Alpina is building within an environment shaped by space, aviation, robotics and advanced engineering. Proximity to the UZH Space Hub, leading academic institutions, engineering talent and innovation partners supports the company’s transition from technical validation to a scalable space mobility platform.

Key Facts

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    From incorporation to first Engine 0 hotfire

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    Pre-seed funding raised

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    Detonative hotfires in the first campaign

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    Company target for engine testing in 2026

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