Rocketdyne calls the observatory the world’s first privately funded, full-scale space science mission.
Rocketdyne says it has been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, which it describes as the world’s first privately funded, full-scale space science mission. The company describes its in-space propulsion technologies as flight-proven.
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Rocketdyne says it will deliver 12 maneuvering thrusters for the Lazuli Space Observatory in 2027, supporting spacecraft integration ahead of the mission's launch. The company announced the contract on Oct. 15.
The observatory plans to use Rocketdyne's thrusters for orbital station-keeping and maneuvering. Rocketdyne describes the hardware as flight-proven, but its announcement does not name the thruster model or disclose the contract's value.
Lazuli is funded by Schmidt Sciences, which was co-founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt. The planned observatory will have a 3-meter primary mirror and is designed to study exoplanet atmospheres, dark energy and dynamic cosmic events in coordination with ground-based observatories.
Rocketdyne describes Lazuli as the world's first privately funded, full-scale space science mission. That designation comes from the company and was not independently established in the announcement.
Lazuli is one of four projects in the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System. The other three are ground-based facilities: the Argus Array, Deep Synoptic Array and Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope. The system says it aims to shorten observatory development timelines while providing open data and shared scientific tools.
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@_RocketdyneWe've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale space science mission. This milestone highlights our flight-proven in-space propulsion technologies that move space forward. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3381838/0/en/rocketdyne-selected-to-provide-propulsion-for-first-privately-funded-full-scale-space-science-mission.html
@jeff_foustRT @_Rocketdyne: We've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale…@_RocketdyneWe've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale space science mission. This milestone highlights our flight-proven in-space propulsion technologies that move space forward. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3381838/0/en/rocketdyne-selected-to-provide-propulsion-for-first-privately-funded-full-scale-space-science-mission.html@jeff_foustRT @_Rocketdyne: We've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale…@_RocketdyneWe've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale space science mission. This milestone highlights our flight-proven in-space propulsion technologies that move space forward. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3381838/0/en/rocketdyne-selected-to-provide-propulsion-for-first-privately-funded-full-scale-space-science-mission.html@jeff_foustRT @_Rocketdyne: We've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale…@_RocketdyneWe've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale space science mission. This milestone highlights our flight-proven in-space propulsion technologies that move space forward. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3381838/0/en/rocketdyne-selected-to-provide-propulsion-for-first-privately-funded-full-scale-space-science-mission.html@jeff_foustRT @_Rocketdyne: We've been selected to provide propulsion for the Lazuli Space Observatory, the world’s first privately funded, full-scale…
