Kiwi space tech company Zenno Astronautics has secured a partnership with Seattle-based spacecraft development company Portal Space Systems.
In late 2026, Portal Space Systems will launch the Starburst-1 mission, a highly manoeuvrable spacecraft. It will have Zenno’s flagship product, the Supertorquer, onboard and aims to demonstrate the technology’s effectiveness in a year-long mission.
The Supertorquer could potentially revolutionise space movement. Free of chemical fuels, it uses superconducting electromagnetics to control spacecraft while in orbit, interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field to vastly enhance satellite manoeuvrability.
Cutting edge space technology
Auckland-based Zenno Astronautics co-founder and chief product officer Sebastian Wieczorek says: “I am very excited to partner with Portal Space Systems to deliver record-setting magnetic performance on board a spacecraft using Zenno’s Supertorquer.
“As a Kiwi founder, I am proud that this New Zealand-designed and built product will be featured on the world stage at the cutting edge of technology. This milestone will also be instrumental in proving New Zealand’s sovereign capability in space.”
Deliver real value to the industry
Portal Space Systems’ Starburst-1 mission will spend a year in sun-synchronous orbit and will demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), rapid retasking, and rapid orbital change for national security and commercial use cases, including Supernova’s high-performance reaction control system (RCS) thrusters, which will serve as the main translational propulsion for the vehicle.
Portal Space Systems chief executive Jeff Thornburg says: “Zenno’s superconducting magnet technology introduces a new class of precise, fuel-free control that unlocks real mission value – especially for operations like RPO, inspection and orbital servicing.
“I’m especially excited about the potential for radiation shielding. These are exactly the kinds of capabilities that Starburst is built to support. Pairing Starburst with the Zenno Supertorquer, set to be the most powerful magnetic actuator ever flown, is a natural fit. This mission gives both teams the opportunity to demonstrate a combined capability that’s directly relevant to defence and commercial operators alike.”
Wieczorek adds: “New Zealand is punching above its weight in both space and superconductivity, delivering real value to the industry. Zenno is proud to be at the forefront of this with a vision building for life in space.”
