Like many other industries worldwide, the space industry is reaping the benefits of advancing technology like blockchain, AI, and nanotechnology. New technological developments are decreasing costs while increasing spaceflight capabilities, resulting in significant growth in exploration potential. Making headway in satellite bus technology is a spaceflight startup under the leadership of Jeff Thornburg, the chief architect of SpaceX’s Raptor engine.
Offering legitimate benefits, Portal Space Systems emerged from stealth mode on April 30th, officially announcing its existence to the world. The startup obtained over $3 million in funding from the US Department of Defense, enabling the development and launch of its new Supernova satellite bus.
Let’s take a brief look at the history of satellite technology. In its simplest terms, a satellite is an object that orbits a bigger object. There are two kinds: natural (natural objects that orbit the moon or earth) and artificial (man-made that orbit other planets). The system has innumerable natural satellites, and almost every planet has at least one moon orbiting it. However, artificial satellites became a reality in the mid-20th century when Russia launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957. This marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration.
Despite the many advancements seen throughout the space industry’s history, Thornburg, Portal Space Systems’ current CEO, highlighted the potential impact of Supernova. He stated, “The space industry hasn’t fundamentally improved satellite bus technology in decades. Our nation is developing sixth-generation fighter aircraft technology but still uses first-generation satellite buses. Supernova has the potential to revolutionize this.”
Previously serving as senior director of propulsion engineering at SpaceX, where he led the development of the Raptor, a powerful next-gen engine that helps run the company’s Starship mega-rocket, Thornburg plans for Supernova to be far more maneuverable than many current artificial satellites in the stratosphere.
Portal Space Systems representatives have revealed Supernova’s unique features, which set it apart from other satellite buses. Its secret sauce is a new solar-thermal propulsion technology, a novel system that provides over 50x improvement in current spacecraft mobility. This means our customers can have spacecraft in orbit that can respond in real time to events in any orbital regime.
One of Supernova’s capabilities is its ability to move from low Earth orbit (LEO), 1,200 miles above the world’s surface level, in hours. This makes the trek from LEO to the region around the moon possible within days.
In the same statement, Portal Space Systems made its existence known; the Seattle-based startup wrote that it has received “significant support” from the US Space Force. The support is not entirely a surprise, as the US Space Force has previously and continuously emphasized the importance of boosting America’s flexibility and responsiveness in the final frontier, primarily when the US relies heavily on satellites for communication, navigation, meteorology, and intelligence.
Supernova has not officially launched into space; however, the startup aims for a debut and takeoff in late 2025.
