Portal Space Systems is partnering with Rebel Space to place spectrum monitoring payloads directly onto maneuverable spacecraft, bringing radio-frequency tracking from ground stations into orbit, according to executives from both startups. The initiative addresses growing concerns over electromagnetic interference and electronic warfare in congested space environments, where satellite communications are increasingly vulnerable to disruption and deliberate jamming.
Bringing Spectrum Intelligence to Orbit
Rebel Space currently provides ground-based spectrum intelligence by linking hardware and software to antennas operated by independent satellite teleport companies. According to Rebel Chief Executive Carrie Marshall, the company aims to move that sensing capability closer to the spacecraft to provide operators with a more immediate view of signal interference affecting communications links.
For military spacecraft operating in contested regions, onboard monitoring systems can help detect attempted jamming, suspicious commands, and other unusual electromagnetic activity. Marshall noted that the companies are discussing a dedicated “spectrum warfare” payload that could supply analytics and give spacecraft an active defense or mitigation capability against electronic interference.
Pro Tip: Onboard electromagnetic monitoring reduces reliance on ground stations, allowing maneuverable spacecraft to assess local radio-frequency conditions independently during orbital transfers.
Enhancing Maneuverability and Space Domain Awareness
Rather than treating the technology solely as a standalone payload, the two startups are also exploring ways to embed Rebel’s monitoring hardware directly into Portal’s standard spacecraft architecture. Portal Chief Executive Jeff Thornburg stated that the company wants an ingrained capability to understand the electronic warfare environment surrounding its vehicles.
Portal is designing its spacecraft to maneuver more extensively than traditional satellites. According to Thornburg, a vehicle moving toward another asset or shifting to a new orbital region needs to evaluate the local radio-frequency environment immediately rather than waiting for ground sensors to relay data. This capability also supports broader space domain awareness by adding electromagnetic tracking data to traditional optical observation methods.
Ground Testing and Upcoming Flight Milestones
The companies plan to begin integration work on the ground before deploying the technology to orbit. Thornburg explained that the immediate next step is combining Rebel’s hardware and software with Portal’s systems and running trials in a hardware-in-the-loop ground setup ahead of a potential launch no earlier than 2027.
Portal recently flew a small technology-demonstration payload in March aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission to test its flight computer, software, and avionics. The company’s next major milestone involves the inaugural flight of Starburst, a 300-kilogram maneuverable spacecraft scheduled to launch in October aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission to a mid-inclination orbit.
The upcoming Starburst flight will validate the vehicle’s core design while hosting rendezvous-and-proximity-operations cameras from TRL11, a superconducting magnet payload supplied by Zenno Astronautics, and Atomic-6’s Space Armor, a lightweight composite tile system designed to protect against micrometeoroids and orbital debris.
Did You Know?
Portal’s Starburst spacecraft will serve as the first orbital deployment platform for Atomic-6’s Space Armor composite tiles, which protect vehicles from orbital debris.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of the Portal Space Systems and Rebel Space partnership?
The partnership aims to integrate spectrum monitoring and electronic warfare intelligence technology directly onto Portal’s maneuverable spacecraft to detect interference and jamming in orbit.
When is the technology expected to fly in space?
The companies plan to conduct ground integration and hardware-in-the-loop testing before a potential orbital launch no earlier than 2027.
What is Portal’s Starburst spacecraft?
Starburst is Portal’s roughly 300-kilogram maneuverable spacecraft designed for extensive orbital operations, with its inaugural flight scheduled for October on a SpaceX Bandwagon mission.
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