Portal Space, a New Startup for the First Commercial Ultra-Mobile Spacecraft

The Seattle-based startup Portal Space Systems issued a press release on April 30, 2024, announcing its exit from stealth mode. The company’s mission is to improve the ability of satellites to perform orbital maneuvers thanks to its newly developed product, Supernova, a payload-agnostic satellite bus with a 500 kg wet mass.

“The space industry hasn’t fundamentally improved satellite bus technology in decades. Our nation is developing 6th-generation fighter aircraft technology but still uses 1st-generation satellite buses. Portal’s Supernova is designed around the customer need for unparalleled mobility and extended mission life,”
— Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems and former architect of SpaceX’s Raptor Engine

Allow us to introduce ourselves; we are Portal Space Systems, the space maneuverability company here to change how you move in space 🛰️https://t.co/oVTqbyKrWH pic.twitter.com/ttDeEkgQ3Y
— Portal Space Systems (@PortalSpaceSys) April 30, 2024

Space Maneuverability, a new limit to overcome

Usually, satellites are built to operate in a specific orbit. Consequently, they use their propulsion system only to maintain that orbit or adjust their attitude. The task of reaching the desired location is performed by the launcher’s second stage or by a space tug.

Portal Space Systems aims to change this paradigm, allowing satellites to directly make orbital transfers (Hohmann Transfer) using their engines.

The Hohmann transfer orbit. Credits: Bryan Weber, Orbital Mechanics & Astrodynamics, University of Connecticut. — *The Hohmann transfer orbit. Credits: Bryan Weber, Orbital Mechanics & Astrodynamics, University of Connecticut*

Its newly developed satellite bus Supernova will provide a 50x improvement in mobility thanks to a solar-thermal propulsion system supplying industry-leading 6 km/s delta-v to a 500 kg payload. These features will allow the spacecraft to change orbit from LEO to MEO in minutes, to GEO in hours, and even to Cislunar in days.

Supernova, Portal System’s flagship product

Founded in 2021, the company spent two years collecting and analyzing customer needs in terms of maneuverability, a process that led to the development of Supernova. The vehicle will address the necessity of commercial customers to avoid collisions in LEO and to move from LEO to GEO. Military customers will benefit from its potential for various missions, providing tactical responsiveness and dynamic space operations.

A digital rendering of the Supernova satellite bus. Credits: Portal Space Systems. — *A digital rendering of the Supernova satellite bus. Credits: Portal Space Systems*

The first demo flight of Supernova is currently scheduled for the end of 2025, or at least the beginning of 2026. After the flight, the company plans to rapidly scale up from the current 25 employees to around 200, to sustain the production of the Supernova buses and fulfill the customers’ demand.

_{*Cover photo credits: Portal Space Systems}