---
title: "Cowboy Space Unveils Big Iron Rocket: Promise to Replace Falcon 9 and Deploy Orbital Datacenter with 20,000 Servers"
description: "Startup Cowboy Space introduced the 86m Big Iron rocket with nine methane engines and a 2028 launch plan. The company also applied for an orbital datacenter of 20,000 servers powered by Nvidia Vera Rubin accelerators."
date: 2026-10-28T18:02:50.366Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/cowboy-space-big-iron-falcon-9-replacement-orbital-datacenter
tags: [cowboy-space, big-iron, spacex, falcon-9, orbital-data-center, rocket, nvidia-vera-rubin, space-launch]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Cowboy Space Unveils Big Iron Rocket: Promise to Replace Falcon 9 and Deploy Orbital Datacenter with 20,000 Servers

![Launch of the Big Iron reusable rocket by startup Cowboy Space in outer space](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/cowboy-space-big-iron-zamenitel-falcon-9-orbitalnyy-tso/cowboy-space-big-iron-zamenitel-falcon-9-orbitalnyy-tso-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Cowboy Space (formerly Aetherflux) unveiled the ~86m two-stage Big Iron rocket with 9 Clydesdale engines and >15t payload capacity to SSO
- The company applied to the FCC to deploy 20,000 Stampede server modules in orbit; the upper stage is designed as an autonomous server with Nvidia Vera Rubin accelerators
- The first Big Iron vehicle is planned for late 2027, with the maiden launch in 2028; the project is currently in the design phase
- The announcement coincided with SpaceX's public pledge to phase out Falcon 9 launches from 2028, positioning Big Iron as a potential market successor

American startup Cowboy Space, renamed from Aetherflux in May 2026 and founded just two years ago, has unveiled the design of its own partially reusable Big Iron launch vehicle. The company, which until recently remained virtually unknown in the commercial launch market, announced its intention not only to build a rocket capable of competing with Falcon 9 but also to deploy an orbital data center in near-Earth space designed for 20,000 server modules. Cowboy Space CEO Bayu Bhatt stated in an interview that the company has already begun negotiations to replace Falcon 9 rockets in the commercial launch market, making the announcement particularly notable against the backdrop of SpaceX's public pledge to phase out Falcon 9 starting in 2028.

### Technical Specifications of Big Iron

The presented Big Iron project is a two-stage rocket approximately 86 meters tall with a reusable first-stage booster. The propulsion system includes nine Clydesdale engines running on liquid methane and liquid oxygen. According to the developers, the rocket is capable of delivering more than 15 tons of payload to a sun-synchronous orbit. The design incorporates solutions for reusing structural elements, which should reduce manufacturing and launch costs. The first rocket is scheduled to be built by the end of 2027, with the inaugural launch slated for 2028. At the time of presentation, Big Iron exists at the design stage, and the claimed characteristics have yet to be confirmed by testing.

### Orbital Datacenter: The Stampede Concept

The Big Iron project is viewed not just as a launch vehicle, but as the foundation for deploying orbital data centers. Cowboy Space has already filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to place 20,000 servers or mini-datacenters for the Stampede project. The second, upper stage of the rocket is being designed from the outset as an autonomous server module, although modifications for deploying third-party payloads will also be provided. Each server within the upper stage will be equipped with five racks of Nvidia Vera Rubin accelerators, creating a megawatt-class compute node. Heat dissipation will be handled by deployable radiators, and the stage's structure will serve as a mounting base for cooling systems and solar panels.

### Space-Based Power Transmission and Reason Missions

As an optional feature, solar energy harvested in space can be beamed back to Earth or used to power satellites. The company previously submitted a corresponding application for this activity to the FCC; in this scenario, the server equipment on the upper stage would be replaced with power transmission equipment while retaining the solar array. A practical step in this direction has already been taken: Cowboy Space launched the experimental Reason-1 spacecraft into low Earth orbit, designed to test laser power beaming from orbit to Earth. The next mission, Reason-2, is scheduled for 2027 and aims to test graphics processors in space for commercial and government computing tasks.

### Context: What's Happening with Falcon 9 and the Launch Market

Cowboy Space's announcement comes amid significant shifts in SpaceX's strategy. Elon Musk's company publicly announced the discontinuation of Falcon 9 launches starting in 2028 and is not signing new launch contracts beyond that date. This causes concern not only among private clients who cannot plan long-term operations, but also at NASA and the Pentagon. At the same time, SpaceX has extended contracts with NASA for astronaut delivery to the ISS that will continue past 2028, and is transitioning its launch activities to the fully reusable Spaceship platform. Thus, formally neither NASA, the Pentagon, nor private clients will be left without access to orbit. Nevertheless, the emergence of a potential competitor or successor to Falcon 9 is perceived by the market as an additional diversification factor.

### Competition and Timeline Realism

Against the backdrop of setbacks by other market players—such as Boeing Starliner's failed launches, ULA's problems with the Vulcan rocket, NASA's massive spending on the SLS moon rocket, and the yet-unrealized ambitions of Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin—Cowboy Space positions Big Iron as an alternative that "will definitely be built." However, experts and observers remain skeptical: the company was founded just two years ago, its first flight is targeted for 2028, and the claimed specs have not been validated by any testing. The question of whether a startup unknown until recently can realistically compete with SpaceX's established infrastructure in such a tight timeframe remains open. Stock markets, analysts note, are primarily reacting to the mere fact of a potential competitor's appearance, but the practical realization of the Big Iron project will require confirmation through testing and initial launches.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Американский стартап пообещал заменитель SpaceX Falcon 9 для запуска 20 000 орбитальных дата-центров window-new](https://3dnews.ru/1150486/amerikanskiy-startap-poobeshchal-zamenitel-spacex-falcon-9-dlya-zapuska-orbitalnih-datatsentrov) - Sole primary source. All technical specifications, timelines, and plans are statements by Cowboy Space. The project is in the design phase; no testing has been conducted. Source 2 (overclockers.ru) is irrelevant to the topic.
- [Стартап из США получил $7 млн на производство мини дронов-камикадзе для борьбы с FPV-беспилотниками](https://overclockers.ru/blog/Global_Chronicles/show/262715/Startap-iz-SShA-poluchil-7-mln-na-proizvodstvo-mini-dronov-kamikadze-dlya-bor-by-s-FPV-bespilotnikami) - Подтверждено по источнику overclockers.ru

## FAQ

### What is Big Iron and who is its developer?

Big Iron is a two-stage partially reusable launch vehicle about 86 meters tall, developed by American startup Cowboy Space (formerly Aetherflux until May 2026). Its propulsion system features nine liquid methane and oxygen Clydesdale engines, with a payload capacity exceeding 15 tons to sun-synchronous orbit.

### When is the first launch of Big Iron scheduled?

The first rocket is planned to be built by the end of 2027, with the inaugural launch slated for 2028. At the time of the presentation, the project is in the design phase.

### What is the Stampede orbital datacenter?

Stampede is Cowboy Space's project to deploy 20,000 server modules in low Earth orbit. The upper stage of Big Iron is designed as an autonomous server featuring five racks of Nvidia Vera Rubin accelerators, deployable radiators, and solar panels. An application has been filed with the FCC.

### Why did the Big Iron announcement coincide with SpaceX's Falcon 9 plans?

SpaceX publicly announced the cessation of Falcon 9 launches starting in 2028 and is not signing new contracts beyond that date. Cowboy Space stated it is already negotiating to replace Falcon 9. Meanwhile, SpaceX is transitioning its launch activities to the Spaceship platform and has extended NASA contracts.

### What experimental missions has Cowboy Space conducted so far?

The company launched the Reason-1 spacecraft into low Earth orbit to test laser power beaming from orbit to Earth. The Reason-2 mission, scheduled for 2027, aims to test graphics processors in space.