Cowboy Space Files FCC Waiver for 20,000-Satellite Stampede Constellation While Unveiling Integrated Big Iron Launcher

Cowboy Space Corporation filed its FCC application for the Stampede constellation in May, requesting waivers on deployment milestones while stating service could begin with a single satellite. The company raised $275 million in Series B funding this spring. Its first satellite, Reason-1, launched October 1 on SpaceX Transporter-18 to test laser power beaming. Reason-2, planned for 2027, targets orbital GPU operations.

The Big Iron design integrates the upper stage as the data center itself, using the rocket skin as radiator and ammonia propellant as coolant. The vehicle stands 86 meters tall with nine Clydesdale engines delivering 2.7 million pounds of thrust and targets 15,000 kg to sun-synchronous orbit. A partial engine test occurred at NASA Stennis in 90 days with a 30-person team. No hardware has reached orbit.

SpaceX filed in January for one million data-center satellites requiring roughly 100 gigawatts. Cowboy positions its integrated vehicle as a lower-cost alternative for both commercial and National Security Space Launch missions. Government customers have told the company they require a completed rocket before committing. The design trades payload flexibility for thermal and power integration gains but faces unproven radiation hardening and thermal management at scale.

Cowboy targets first rocket completion by end of 2027 and first flight in 2028. It also offers Big Iron Express rides to external customers needing up to one megawatt in orbit. Success hinges on proving the integrated stage survives launch loads and maintains compute reliability without separate satellite buses.