Longshot Space Developed Gun-Based Launch System
The Alameda-based startup aims to slash launch costs by firing cargo into orbit using a reusable ground accelerator.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Space
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Longshot Space Technology is developing a novel launch system that uses a reusable, ground-based gas gun to accelerate payloads into space. The Alameda-based company intends to provide a cheaper alternative to conventional rocket launches by using high-pressure gas to fire projectiles at extreme speeds.
Why it matters
This technology represents a significant effort to lower the barrier to space entry by targeting a launch cost of $50 per kilogram. By using a gun as the first stage of the launch process, the company seeks to move away from the high costs associated with traditional chemical rocket stages.
Longshot Space is currently testing a 70-foot, 6-inch diameter gun while planning a 140-foot unit to reach Mach 8 speeds. The company has raised $20 million from venture investors to support these hardware development milestones.
The players
Longshot Space Technology
This Alameda-based firm is developing non-rocket space launch infrastructure.
US Military
The national defense establishment has issued multiple contracts to the company for hypersonic testing.
The details
The system operates by using tanks of high-pressure gas triggered at precise intervals to propel a projectile through a barrel. The projectile then functions as the second stage of the launch, utilizing its own propulsion system and a lifting body design to stabilize altitude once it exits the gun.
Timeline
Research into multi-injection gun designs first occurred during the 1960s.
This report was published on October 13, 2026.
Deeper Dive
This development represents a modern revival of concepts explored in 1960s multi-injection gun research programs. By integrating advanced materials and timing mechanisms, the company is attempting to realize concepts that were previously limited by the engineering capabilities of that era.
The success of this launch technology could drastically reduce the cost of placing satellites and payloads into orbit. Such a shift could facilitate more frequent scientific research missions and commercial satellite deployments that were previously cost-prohibitive.
The takeaway
The move toward gun-based launch systems marks a departure from traditional chemical rocketry by leveraging mechanical acceleration. Future progress will depend on the company successfully scaling its current 70-foot testing infrastructure to a full 3,000-foot orbital launcher.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Space exploration.
More information
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Do you believe gun-based launch systems will reliably lower the cost of putting cargo into space?
