Portal Space Systems announced on August 20 that it had signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first Supernova spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket in 2028, with plans to use the rocket’s remaining capacity to carry hosted payloads. The mission will be named Motus Via Sol, a Latin phrase meaning “movement with the sun,” while testing the Supernova spacecraft will be the launch’s primary objective.
Supernova uses a solar thermal propulsion system, which Portal says gives the spacecraft high thrust and a delta-v of up to 6 kilometers per second. These specifications enable the spacecraft to perform extensive maneuvers after reaching orbit, a capability the company also intends to use to provide greater flexibility in deploying secondary satellites.
Additional Capacity for Hosted Payloads
Portal is working on this aspect with Maverick Space Systems, a launch-payload aggregator and coordinator. Maverick will sell the excess capacity, arrange the secondary payloads and integrate them, while Portal will manage the mission as a whole and communicate directly with SpaceX. The two companies did not disclose the amount of capacity available, but said the mission would accommodate ESPA-class satellites, as well as larger satellites described as “cake-topper” payloads because they are placed on top of the payload stack.
Supernova’s ability to change orbit after launch gives the two companies the option to select suitable orbits for certain customers while maintaining the mission’s primary requirements. However, Portal clarified that the priority will remain testing Supernova, rather than serving hosted payloads.
Why Does This Arrangement Matter?
The agreement comes at a time when satellite operators are facing increasing difficulty finding rideshare opportunities to reach orbit. This is linked to concerns that SpaceX may end its dedicated rideshare launch program in the coming years; several companies have said that SpaceX is not accepting new bookings for rideshare missions beyond late 2028 or early 2029.
Thus, Portal’s launch will not only test its spacecraft but also provide an additional opportunity for operators seeking a place on a Falcon 9 rocket. Vidur Kaushish, Maverick’s chief operating officer, said the company is working on an optimized payload stack for the mission with the goal of bringing in additional payloads and reducing launch costs for all participants.
Preparing for the First Mission
Portal continues to test the technologies needed for its spacecraft. In March, Mini-Nova flew as a hosted payload on Momentus’s Vigoride-7 spacecraft to test the avionics required for future vehicles. Jeff Thornburg, Portal’s chief executive officer, said the tests were conducted without problems and that the company was considering extending them by an additional six months to collect more data.
The company’s first spacecraft, Starburst-1, is scheduled to launch in October as part of SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. Starburst-1 is classified as an ESPA satellite and has a delta-v of one kilometer per second. Portal raised $50 million in April, is also moving to a larger production facility in Bothell, one of the suburbs of Seattle, Washington, and expects its workforce to reach between 80 and 100 employees by the end of the year.
Portal believes that U.S. military interest in “persistent maneuver” capabilities in space supports its strategy, while the partnership with Maverick is intended to be long-term and could include future Supernova missions on Falcon 9 or other vehicles.