Next-gen ‘Space Armor’ tiles to launch on SpaceX mission for next-gen debris defense

Atomic-6, a company specializing in advanced composite materials, is set to test its innovative Space Armor shield material in orbit for the first time through a collaboration with aerospace defense startup Portal Space Systems. The Space Armor tiles, designed as a lightweight and thin alternative to traditional metallic Whipple shields, will be installed on Portal’s Supernova spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission in October 2026. Unlike Whipple shields that fragment debris upon impact, Space Armor absorbs and contains impacts, reducing secondary debris and enhancing spacecraft protection. The upcoming in-orbit test aims to validate installation procedures, on-orbit performance, and readiness for broader commercial and national security use. Space Armor’s hexagonal tiles, about three-quarters of an inch thick, have already passed successful hypervelocity impact tests simulating space debris collisions at speeds over 7 kilometers per second. Portal’s CEO, Jeff Thornburg, emphasized that Space Armor will enable their spacecraft to maintain sustained maneuver