Portal’s first free-flying spacecraft is stable and power positive with its solar array deployed within hours of launch, less than one year after the company unveiled its Starburst vehicle.
Portal Space Systems signs a launch contract with SpaceX, securing a Falcon 9 mission to advance its next generation of highly maneuverable spacecraft.
Portal Space Systems successfully launched its first free-flying spacecraft, **Starburst-1**, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, achieving orbit in under a year. The desk-sized craft established communications, stabilized, and deployed its solar array shortly after deployment. Starburst-1 carries experimental tech from **Zenno Astronautics**, **TRL11**, and **Atomic-6**, testing radiation shielding, live video systems, and debris protection. The mission follows Portal’s March 2026 **Mini-Nova** demo and aligns with its goal of rapid orbital maneuverability for commercial and defense customers. The company, self-funding the launch, plans to expand production to 16 Starburst and 12 Supernova spacecraft annually by 2027.
