--- title: "German Y Combinator Startup Ratlog Promises 90% Fewer Rocket Engine Parts with Falcon 9 Performance" description: "German startup Ratlog, part of the Y Combinator autumn batch, has introduced a heavy launch vehicle project featuring a 90% reduction in engine parts while matching Falcon 9 performance levels." date: 2026-10-18T10:39:15.665Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ratlog-y-combinator-90-percent-engine-parts tags: [ratlog, y-combinator, rocket, space-launch, falcon-9, german-startup, aerospace] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # German Y Combinator Startup Ratlog Promises 90% Fewer Rocket Engine Parts with Falcon 9 Performance ![Rocket engine test by startup Ratlog featuring powerful flames at night](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/ratlog-y-combinator-90-chastei-detelei-dvigatelya/ratlog-y-combinator-90-chastei-detelei-dvigatelya-1.webp) ## Key Points - Ratlog plans to reduce rocket engine parts by 90% while maintaining Falcon 9-level performance - The startup went from a 30,000-euro state grant to Y Combinator in five months - Hot-fire tests are scheduled for November 2026, with the YC Demo Day in December - Founders position Ratlog as a 'cheaper and more affordable Ariane 6' for the European market - Potential launch sites are being considered in Oman and the UAE As part of the Y Combinator autumn batch, German startup Ratlog, founded by graduates of Dresden University of Technology, has unveiled a heavy-launch-vehicle project that the team claims fundamentally differs from approaches used in the modern space industry. The company's key bet is the radical simplification of the rocket engine's design: the number of parts is planned to be reduced by 90%. "There are companies using different fuel or building a tank out of a different material, but those are all incremental steps. We are the only ones doing something truly different," said Ratlog CEO and co-founder Charlie Weise at the project presentation. ### Target Parameters and Architectural Solutions The Ratlog rocket aims to achieve performance comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9—parameters orbital launch customers have already grown accustomed to. At the same time, according to the startup, the rocket fairing will likely be wider than that of its American counterpart, which could expand payload accommodation capabilities. The founders emphasize that their approach is not limited to replacing fuel or tank material, but affects the very philosophy of engine design, which, by their estimation, can significantly reduce the cost and production time of power plants for spacecraft. ### Chronology: From Grant to Y Combinator in Five Months The Ratlog team is demonstrating high development speed. The first grant of 30,000 euros from the German government was received in April 2026. Already in early September, a test launch of the engine prototype took place, and a few weeks later the startup was accepted into the Y Combinator autumn batch. For comparison, Israel-based Isar Aerospace, founded in 2018, conducted the first launch of its significantly smaller-class rocket only in 2025. Thus, Ratlog went from receiving state funding to participating in one of the world's most prominent tech accelerators in a matter of months. ### Upcoming Stages and Commercial Agreements In November 2026, Ratlog plans to conduct hot-fire engine tests, and in December, to demonstrate the results at the Y Combinator Demo Day. According to the startup, the company already has preliminary agreements with orbital data center operators and satellite constellation owners, indicating potential commercial demand for launch services. The founders position Ratlog as a European alternative, stating their intention to become a "cheaper and more affordable Ariane 6"—the flagship heavy rocket of the European Space Agency. ### Launch Sites and Strategic Positioning Ratlog is considering the territories of Oman and the United Arab Emirates as potential launch sites. The choice of these locations is likely due to geographical position, climatic conditions, and the availability of space launch infrastructure in the Middle East. If the stated approach to simplifying the engine design is confirmed during testing, it could pave the way to a significant increase in launch frequency and a reduction in the cost of placing payloads into orbit, which is especially relevant amid growing demand for orbital data centers and large satellite constellations. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Стартап из Y Combinator решил убрать 90% деталей из ракетного двигателя и сохранить характеристики Falcon 9](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/10/18/startap-iz-y-combinator-resil-ubrat-90-detalei-iz-raketnogo-dvigatelia-i-soxranit-xarakteristiki-falcon-9.html) - Primary source: The XAB.info article is based on an ixbt.com publication dated October 18, 2026. All facts (company name, CEO name, grant amount, test dates, target characteristics) match the source text. Technical claims about reducing parts by 90% are statements made by the company itself and have not been verified by independent testing. ## FAQ ### What is Ratlog and how does it differ from other rocket startups? Ratlog is a German startup founded by graduates of Dresden University of Technology, which introduced a heavy launch vehicle project during the Y Combinator autumn batch. The company claims a 90% reduction in rocket engine parts compared to traditional designs, with target performance comparable to the Falcon 9. ### When are Ratlog's engine tests scheduled? Hot-fire engine tests are scheduled for November 2026. The company plans to showcase the results at the Y Combinator Demo Day in December 2026. The prototype was already tested in early September 2026. ### What launch sites is Ratlog considering? The startup is considering the territories of Oman and the United Arab Emirates as potential launch sites. ### Does Ratlog have commercial orders? According to the company, it has preliminary agreements with orbital data center operators and satellite constellation owners. The founders position Ratlog as a 'cheaper and more affordable Ariane 6' for the European market.