{"id":275250,"date":"2025-11-21T10:43:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/275250\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T10:43:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:43:11","slug":"this-startup-has-a-daring-plan-to-use-sunlight-for-space-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/275250\/","title":{"rendered":"This Startup Has a Daring Plan to Use Sunlight for Space Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Portal Space Systems, a startup out of Bothell, Washington, is aiming to tackle a challenge that\u2019s been plaguing the space industry for years: How to move satellites between orbits without burning through expensive fuel. Their answer? Solar-powered propulsion. This innovation could radically alter the way we think about satellite movement, making it cheaper, more sustainable, and possibly even more efficient.<\/p>\n

The idea of using sunlight to propel spacecraft isn\u2019t exactly new, but it has remained largely theoretical for decades, until now. Portal Space is revisiting this old research, taking advantage of advances in technology to develop a practical propulsion system.<\/p>\n

Reviving an Old Concept with a New Twist<\/p>\n

The core of Portal Space\u2019s technology<\/a> is based on solar-powered propulsion, a concept that was first explored in the 1980s but never fully realized. According to the company, the technology has been around for a while, but it wasn\u2019t until recently that modern advancements allowed for its actual development. By capturing solar energy<\/a> and converting it into thrust, spacecraft could move between orbits without relying on traditional, fuel-heavy systems like chemical propulsion.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s interesting about this approach is that it\u2019s not just a neat idea; it actually addresses a growing need in these operations. With more satellites being launched and missions becoming increasingly complex, there\u2019s a need for propulsion systems that are both efficient and sustainable. This solar-powered option could provide an almost limitless, clean source of energy that could change how we manage and maneuver satellites.<\/p>\n

\"PortalPortal Space Systems is developing a spacecraft with solar thermal propulsion and a HEX Thruster, enabling easy orbital movement, as shown in this rendering. Credit: Portal Space Systems<\/p>\n

The Power of 3D Printing in Space Tech<\/p>\n

One of the things that really sets Portal Space apart is how they\u2019re taking advantage of 3D printing technology to build their solar propulsion components. Instead of relying on traditional manufacturing methods, the company is creating custom-made parts that help capture and convert sunlight into propulsion. This method makes the entire system more precise, efficient, and importantly, more affordable.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a huge inflection point,\u201d said CEO Jeff Thornburg<\/a>, regarding Portal\u2019s recent testing. \u201cThis is what the future looks like. We\u2019re bringing it to reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

3D printing in space tech is still relatively new, but it\u2019s catching on. It allows for much more flexibility in design, which is crucial when it comes to this type of travel. Portal Space can quickly test and adapt their designs without the need for expensive prototyping. <\/p>\n

\"PortalPortal Space Systems\u2019 Supernova spacecraft uses mirrors and a HEX Thruster to harness solar energy for thrust. Credit: Portal Space Systems<\/p>\n

Extending Satellite Lifespans with Solar Power<\/p>\n

Traditional chemical propulsion systems rely on limited fuel, meaning once that fuel runs out, the satellite can no longer move. But with solar propulsion, satellites could keep functioning much longer, repositioning as needed, without worrying about running out of fuel. This could significantly reduce the costs of maintaining and replacing satellites over time.<\/p>\n

This is especially useful for large satellite constellations \u2014 groups of satellites that work together in orbit. These systems require regular adjustments to stay in sync, and without an efficient way to move them, their lifespan can be drastically shortened.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn space, people generally are very risk averse just because of how expensive it is to launch something,\u201d explained Justin Little<\/a>, an aeronautics and astronautics professor at the University of Washington. \u201cAre the benefits going to be there that actually make the technology desirable?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Portal Space Systems, a startup out of Bothell, Washington, is aiming to tackle a challenge that\u2019s been plaguing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":275251,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[90,416,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-275250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-science","9":"tag-space","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/275251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}