tech

April 10, 2026

This Founder Helped Build SpaceX's Most Powerful Rocket Engine. Now He's Building a 'Fighter Jet for Orbit.'

The company's novel rocket engine could be a game changer for the U.S. military.

This Founder Helped Build SpaceX's Most Powerful Rocket Engine. Now He's Building a 'Fighter Jet for Orbit.'

TL;DR

  • Portal Space Systems, founded by Jeff Thornburg (formerly of SpaceX), secured $50 million in Series A funding.
  • The company is developing solar thermal propulsion, which uses concentrated solar heat to propel spacecraft.
  • This technology aims to provide high-speed mobility in orbit, addressing military and commercial demands.
  • Portal's technology has roots in government research dating back to the 1960s.
  • The company has already received $45 million in strategic funding from the U.S. military.
  • A prototype spacecraft is expected to launch in October, with the first SuperNova spacecraft scheduled for 2027.
  • Advancements in additive manufacturing and materials science are key to Portal's Hex thruster.
  • Thornburg believes solar thermal propulsion is a crucial step towards future nuclear thermal propulsion systems.

Continue reading the original article

Made withNostr