Name

Portal Space Systems

Legal name

Portal Space Systems Inc.

Website

https://portalsystems.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spacecraft Propulsion and Mobility Systems

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)

Keywords

• Solar thermal propulsion
• Maneuverable spacecraft platforms
• Orbital debris removal
• Satellite propulsion systems
• Space mobility technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Bothell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Spacecraft Platform Sales: Portal Space Systems generates revenue through the direct sale of maneuverable spacecraft platforms (Starburst and Supernova) to defense, civil government, and commercial customers. The company is scaling production to 12 Supernova and 16 Starburst spacecraft annually from its Bothell manufacturing facility, with each vehicle priced at custom enterprise contract values.
2. Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS): Portal offers orbital debris removal services in partnership with Paladin Space, using the Starburst spacecraft with Paladin's Triton capture payload to remove 20–50 debris objects per mission in low Earth orbit. This recurring service model generates revenue from commercial satellite operators and space station operators (e.g., Starlab Space) who pay for debris cleanup to reduce collision avoidance costs.
3. Mission Support Services: Portal contracts mission management and ground support services from partners (e.g., Quindar) to support Starburst and Supernova spacecraft operations, integrating these services into customer mission packages.
4. Payload Integration Services: Portal provides software-defined payload flexibility allowing customers to swap payloads up to hours before launch. The company hosts third-party payloads on its spacecraft (e.g., TRL11 video/edge processing, Zenno superconducting magnet technology) generating revenue from payload hosting and mission-specific integration services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Portal Space Systems designs, manufactures, and sells maneuverable spacecraft platforms (Supernova and Starburst) powered by proprietary solar thermal propulsion technology. The company provides these vehicles along with related services — including Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS) — to defense agencies, commercial satellite operators, and civil space customers. Core technology is the HEX Thruster-based Solar Thermal Propulsion system, which delivers up to 6 km/s delta-v using concentrated solar energy and a storable ammonia monopropellant.

Product overview

Portal Space Systems is a next-generation spacecraft company developing a portfolio of maneuverable vehicles powered by proprietary solar thermal propulsion technology. The company offers two primary spacecraft platforms: Supernova (a larger trans-orbital vehicle with 6 km/s delta-v for cross-domain operations from LEO to Cislunar) and Starburst (a smaller ESPA-class vehicle for rapid in-orbit maneuvers within single orbital regimes). The portfolio also includes the Mini-Nova technology demonstration payload, the Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS) offering developed with Paladin Space, and core enabling technology including the HEX Thruster and Solar Thermal Propulsion system. Both spacecraft share core subsystems and manufacturing processes, enabling rapid development and scaling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Supernova: A maneuverable, solar-thermal spacecraft engineered for persistent delta-v, on-demand autonomy, and real-time control. Designed for trans-orbital freedom with sustained maneuverability across LEO to Cislunar space.
• Starburst
• Mini-Nova

Products and services

• Supernova Spacecraft Platform A maneuverable, solar-thermal spacecraft engineered for persistent delta-v (up to 6 km/s), on-demand autonomy, and real-time control. Designed for sustained maneuverability across LEO to Cislunar space with multi-year operational life, software-defined payload flexibility, and <24-hour payload swap. Powers national security, commercial, and civil missions including cislunar logistics, constellation maintenance, and life extension.
• Starburst Spacecraft Platform An ESPA-class rapid-maneuverability spacecraft designed for responsive in-orbit missions within a single orbital regime. Delivers >1 km/s delta-v for in-orbit mobility, rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), rapid retasking, and rapid orbital change. Shares core subsystems with Supernova. Customer missions available starting 2027.
• Mini-Nova Technology Demonstration Payload A tissue box-sized technology demonstration payload that tests critical power systems and navigation technologies for the upcoming Starburst and Supernova maneuverable space vehicles. Launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-16 in March 2026.
• Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS) Commercial orbital debris removal service offered in partnership with Paladin Space. Combines Portal's Starburst spacecraft with Paladin's Triton capture payload to image, classify, capture, and dispose of debris objects. Targets 20-50 debris objects per mission in low Earth orbit. First commercial LOI signed with Starlab Space. Deployment targeted for 2027.
• Solar Thermal Propulsion (STP) System Validation Proprietary solar thermal propulsion technology using concentrated solar energy to heat ammonia monopropellant. Combines deployable, re-stowable mirror concentrators, a thermal battery, and a 3D-printed HEX Thruster to deliver up to 6 km/s delta-v. First commercial demonstration of solar thermal propulsion at operational temperatures in vacuum.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 km/s delta-v (Supernova) — enables LEO to GEO in hours, LEO to Cislunar in days, versus weeks or months with conventional propulsion
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core operational partner, flagship partnership, first commercial customer (loi), core technology partner, component supplier, payload partner and launch/mission partner.

• Quindarcore operational partnerTechnology or Integration · 19 May 2026Quindar, a Denver-based startup, signed an agreement with Portal Space Systems to provide mission management services for upcoming maneuverable spacecraft missions, including support for Starburst and Supernova spacecraft launches. Quindar delivers mission management, ground segment support, and orbital operations infrastructure.
• Paladin Spaceflagship partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Portal and Australian startup Paladin Space partnered to launch Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS). Portal's Starburst spacecraft serves as the operational platform; Paladin's Triton payload images, classifies, and captures tumbling debris objects under one meter. Target: 20–50 captures per mission in LEO. First customer LOI signed with Starlab Space. Deployment targeted for 2027.
• Starlab Spacefirst commercial customer (loi)GTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026Starlab Space (a commercial space station venture including Airbus, Voyager Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Mitsubishi, and Palantir) signed a Letter of Intent to integrate Portal/Paladin's DRAAS service into future Starlab space station operations. Starlab is Portal's first commercial customer for debris removal services.
• Palladyne AI (GuideTech subsidiary)core technology partnerTechnology or Integration · 20 January 2026Palladyne AI's GuideTech subsidiary secured a contract with Portal Space Systems to provide navigation, guidance, spacecraft modeling, embedded software, and avionics support for Portal's next-generation maneuverable spacecraft platforms. This marks Palladyne AI's expansion into the space domain.
• Atomic-6component supplierTechnology or Integration · 15 January 2026Portal selected Atomic-6's Space Armor composite MMOD (micrometeoroid and orbital debris) protection tiles as the primary shielding system for Starburst-1. Space Armor tiles are ~30% lighter and ~15% thinner than Whipple shields, developed under a $1.2M SBIR grant from the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. First operational orbital deployment on SpaceX Transporter-18 mission, October 2026.
• TRL11payload partnerTechnology or Integration · 5 November 2025TRL11 is a payload partner on the Starburst-1 mission (SpaceX Transporter-18, Q4 2026), providing full-motion video with onboard edge processing to enable mission assurance through real-time health monitoring and capturing visuals for documenting mission outcomes.
• Zennopayload partnerTechnology or Integration · 5 November 2025Zenno will demonstrate its Supertorquer — the world's most powerful superconducting magnetic actuator ever flown — on Portal's Starburst-1 mission for fuel-free control authority and precision interactions during close proximity operations.
• Momentus Inc.launch/mission partnerTechnology or Integration · 28 May 2025Portal signed a contract with Momentus to deliver its first on-orbit technology demonstration (Mini-Nova) aboard Momentus' Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle on SpaceX Transporter-16 (March 2026). Momentus provides hosted payload services enabling Portal to de-risk critical avionics and software ahead of its free-flying Supernova mission.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portal-space-systems

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Portal Space Systems