This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit’

Portal Space Systems, founded by a former SpaceX Raptor engine architect, has raised $50 million to commercialize solar thermal propulsion technology—a decades-old NASA concept that could revolutionize in-space mobility for satellites and military spacecraft. The technology addresses a critical business need: with thousands of satellites launching annually and military demands for rapid orbital maneuvers, organizations now require cost-effective propulsion solutions that were previously uneconomical. For IT leaders managing space-based infrastructure and edge computing networks, this represents a potential game-changer in satellite constellation management, network resilience, and the viability of distributed orbital computing platforms.