Stef Crum
| Stef Crum | |
| Occupation | CEO and co-founder of Reditus Space |
|---|---|
| Known for | Co-founding Reditus Space |
| Education | Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology |
Stef Crum is an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who is the co-founder and CEO of Reditus Space, a company developing reusable satellites for zero-gravity manufacturing. Reditus Space was part of Y Combinator's Winter 2025 batch and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.[1]
Early life and education
Crum holds a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where her research focused on satellite operations and re-entry technology. She has a background in small satellite development and led multiple satellite missions prior to founding Reditus Space. Earlier in her career, Crum worked with TEDx and the Da Vinci Satellite Company before pursuing doctoral studies in aerospace with a focus on space systems.[2]
Career
Crum co-founded Reditus Space with Will Sherman, who serves as chief technology officer. The two met during their Ph.D. studies, where they collaborated on various projects before establishing the company.[2] Reditus Space develops reusable free-flying spacecraft designed to carry payloads into low-Earth orbit, conduct microgravity manufacturing, and return those payloads safely to Earth through controlled re-entry and pinpoint landing. The company's service model is described as "microgravity access as a service," supporting applications in drug formulation, optical communications, and semiconductor manufacturing — processes that benefit from the absence of gravity-driven forces.[3]
The company's first capsule, designated ENOS, is designed to survive atmospheric re-entry, carry up to 40 kilograms of payload, and support in-orbit manufacturing. Reditus prices its launches at approximately $4 million per mission. In December 2025, the company announced a $7.1 million seed funding round, with investors including Y Combinator and Antler. The company's first full orbital recovery mission was planned for launch in 2026.[4]
In March 2025, Reditus Space announced a partnership with Dawn Aerospace, which would provide green in-space propulsion for Reditus's spacecraft.
Crum was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2026 in the Transportation & Aerospace category.
References
- ↑ "Reditus Space – Y Combinator". 'Y Combinator}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "S2 EP18: Breaking Barriers: How Stef Crum is Making Space Accessible for All". 'EVONA Space (YouTube)}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ "Reditus Space". 'Reditus Space}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ↑ "Reditus Space – Forbes Profile". 'Forbes}'. Retrieved 2026-03-18.