Fortastra

Maneuverable satellites for orbital defense.

Founded
2025
Headquarters
California
Disclosed funding
$8M
Status
Operating
Sector
Defense
Latest round
—
Reported valuation
—
Website
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Overview

Fortastra builds satellites designed to protect US and allied assets in orbit, and has recruited executives from Relativity, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent. Founder and CEO Mike Smayda was a senior aerodynamics engineer at SpaceX and previously co-founded Hermeus.

Funding

$8M seed.

Disclosed funding is the sum of publicly reported rounds found in the sources below. It is a floor, not a complete total.

Founders

Mike Smayda, Founder & CEO
At SpaceX: Senior aerodynamics engineer (rocket landing)

Topics

Sources

  1. Payload: Fortastra lands $8M seed
  2. SpaceNews: Executives join Fortastra C-suite
  3. Hoo You Know: Mike Smayda

Last verified September 30, 2026.