SpaceX Veterans Pivot Mars Tech to Earth-Based Carbon Fuel Production
General Galactic, founded by SpaceX alumni, applies Mars-ready CO2-to-methane technology to replace underground natural gas. The startup raises $8 million to deploy its first commercial modules by 2025.
SpaceX alumni Halen Mattison and Luke Neise adapt their Mars-focused carbon dioxide-to-methane technology for use on Earth through their startup General Galactic. The founders originally design reactors to produce fuel for Mars missions, but they now build systems to replace naturally extracted natural gas. Their current pilot system produces 2,000 liters of methane daily, with plans to increase output by swapping off-the-shelf parts for custom in-house components.
Instead of targeting the heating and electrification sectors, General Galactic focuses on supplying methane for industrial processes like chemical and plastic manufacturing. The company also explores the production of other hydrocarbons, potentially including jet fuel for the transportation industry. Unlike traditional petrochemical facilities, these reactors use mass production techniques for assembly to streamline commercial scaling.
The startup secures an $8 million seed round co-led by Harpoon Ventures and Refactor Capital to deploy its first modules in 2025. General Galactic designs its systems to plug directly into existing infrastructure, giving it an adoption advantage over alternative fuels like hydrogen. The company faces competition from other climate tech startups like Oxylus Energy and Aerleum in the emerging market for synthetic fuels.