Forget rockets — Longshot wants to fire cargo into space from a gun. See it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Source: TechCrunch ↗ (cross-verified by 2 outlets — full list below)
Longshot Space Technology, a startup based in Alameda, California, is developing a massive ground‑based gun to launch cargo into space, a concept that dates back to Jules Verne. Co‑founders and chief executives Mike Grace and CTO Nato Saichek are leading the effort, which has already secured roughly $20 million in venture funding. The company is currently testing a 70‑foot, six‑inch‑diameter gun near Barstow, California, and plans to scale up to a 140‑foot, 30‑inch‑diameter gun at its Alameda site, eventually targeting a 328‑foot gun that could be extended to about 3,000 feet—the longest gun on the planet. Their design uses multi‑injection propulsion, firing high‑pressure gas from ports along the barrel to accelerate projectiles to near‑hypersonic speeds, with the ultimate aim of propelling 220‑pound payloads to Mach 8 and, with a ten‑kilometer‑long barrel, achieving velocities of five kilometers per second sufficient for orbital insertion.
The technology promises a dramatically cheaper alternative to conventional rockets, potentially delivering payloads to orbit for as little as $50 per kilogram, far below the $300 per kilogram price point needed for emerging orbital data‑center markets. Longshot also intends to generate revenue by offering hypersonic testing services to the U.S. military, leveraging contracts already awarded and proposing installations at military bases such as Fort Bliss. The lifting‑body shape of the projectile provides aerodynamic lift after exiting the barrel, eliminating the need for the gun to be angled upward and enabling rapid, low‑cost testing of hypersonic interceptors—“hypersonic clay pigeons”—at a fraction of the cost of traditional missile tests.
Realizing the vision hinges on securing suitable sites for the enormous infrastructure, a challenge acknowledged by Saichek, who notes that finding a location willing to host a ten‑kilometer‑long, ten‑foot‑diameter gun is the primary obstacle. If Longshot can overcome these logistical hurdles, its reusable, low‑cost launch system could reshape the economics of space access, making satellite operators more willing to experiment with novel spacecraft designs and potentially catalyzing the growth of orbital data‑center services. The company will showcase its progress at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where attendees can learn more about the technology and its broader implications for both commercial space and defense applications.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Export-heavy economies might see demand wobble as buyers wait and watch.
- ▶Global commerce usually shrugs off slight shocks, but keeps one eye open.
🏙️Local Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Neighbourhood traders usually adjust subtly rather than all at once.
- ▶Family budgets close to home might absorb a modest, slow-moving effect.
🏦Rates & Bankslow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Lenders typically reserve big rate moves for clearer economic signals.
- ▶Borrowing costs might hold steady for now, but they can turn on fresh news.
❤️Healthmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶A little perspective usually helps once the initial shock fades.
- ▶Checking in on vulnerable neighbours matters when news feels heavy.
💷Wealthlow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Your overall wealth picture is unlikely to be defined by a single story like this.
- ▶Money set aside for the future can afford to sit tight through this.
🏠Housingmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶Housing supply and demand rarely turn on a single piece of news.
- ▶Estate agents typically say the market takes weeks to catch up with news.
🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.