True Anomaly Cuts Workforce Following Unsuccessful Jackal Spacecraft Debut Mission

True Anomaly has announced a significant restructuring, including the layoff of approximately a quarter of its workforce. The decision comes in the wake of the company's rapid growth over the past two years, during which it secured substantial funding and expanded its operations.

The company, which raised an impressive $100 million in a fundraising round last December, revealed that the layoffs were necessitated by a strategic need to streamline operations and eliminate duplicative roles within the organization.

While the exact number of employees affected by the layoffs was not disclosed by the company, social media posts indicate that around 30 employees lost their jobs on April 24.

True Anomaly's spokesperson, in a statement to SpaceNews, affirmed that despite the staff reductions, the company remains committed to fulfilling its existing contracts. Notably, True Anomaly recently clinched a $30 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to supply a spacecraft for the Victus Haze tactically responsive mission.

Reflecting on the rationale behind the restructuring, the spokesperson shared

"With our rapid growth over the past two years, we looked at every aspect of our company to make sure we are laser-focused on our goals and best positioned to execute...We identified the duplication of roles and functions across the company and, as such, reduced our headcount. This won’t impact our ability to execute on our contracts with customers or on our mission to bring security and sustainability to the space domain."

True Anomaly burst onto the scene in 2022, positioning itself within the highly competitive national security space market. Its flagship product, the Jackal spacecraft, garnered significant attention for its versatility in various military applications, including in-orbit maneuvering and object interaction.

The company's rapid expansion saw it establish a 35,000 square-foot facility in Centennial, Colorado, in August of the same year.

However, the recent layoffs come on the heels of an unfortunate setback for True Anomaly. The company's inaugural mission for its Jackal spacecraft, launched to low Earth orbit on March 4 as part of the SpaceX Transporter-10 rideshare, encountered difficulties. By March 21, True Anomaly reported its inability to verify the functionality of the spacecraft.

"We’re planning our second Jackal flight test within the next 12 months."

While the restructuring may mark a challenging moment for True Anomaly, it underscores the company's resilience and determination to navigate the complex landscape of the space industry.