Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

Portal Space Systems has taken a significant step to ensure its launch plans are not disrupted by the current constrained launch market. The company has announced that it has purchased an entire SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for its Motus Via Sol 2028 mission. This move is expected to provide the company with greater control over its launch schedule and destiny.

Launch Details

The Motus Via Sol mission will be the first flight of Portal's Supernova bus, which is powered by the company's FLARE solar thermal-propulsion system. Portal Space Systems CEO Jeff Thornburg stated that the company is partnering with the Space Force on this demo mission. The company also has future missions planned with one commercial customer and one defense customer, although these cannot be announced yet.

Rideshare Opportunities

While Portal is expected to take up about half of the fairing with its own spacecraft, the company is working with launch integrator Maverick Space Systems to sell the other half to customers looking for rideshare opportunities. This approach is expected to work well for Portal due to the maneuverability of its spacecraft in orbit, which allows it to accommodate rideshare passengers and move as needed after drop off.

Upcoming Missions

In addition to the Motus Via Sol mission, Portal is also preparing to launch its Starburst-1 mission in October on SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare. According to Thornburg, this is likely to be the company's last self-funded demo mission. The company's decision to purchase a dedicated Falcon 9 rocket for its Motus Via Sol mission is seen as a strategic move to secure its launch future and fulfill its customers' mission requirements.

Financial Considerations

Thornburg declined to share the financial details of the rocket purchase or the rideshare slots, but stated that the company is not trying to turn a profit from this arrangement. The goal is to ensure that the cost is neutral, and the company can fulfill its mission objectives without being impacted by the constrained launch market. The company's maturity, including a $50M Series A and ongoing construction on a 65,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, has provided it with the necessary resources to pursue this approach.