This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit’
Jeff Thornburg, a key figure in developing SpaceX's Raptor engine, is now leading Portal Space Systems, which has secured $50 million in Series A funding to advance solar thermal propulsion technology. This innovative approach, which concentrates solar energy to heat propellant, aims to enhance spacecraft speed and maneuverability, addressing the growing demands of both military and commercial space operations.
Key Points
Portal Space Systems raised $50 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $250 million.
The company is developing solar thermal propulsion, a technology previously studied by NASA since the 1960s.
Portal has received $45 million in strategic funding from the U.S. military for its potential in orbital warfare.
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