In this interview, Dave Barnhart, CEO and Co-Founder of Arkisys, discusses the inspiration for his company’s innovative space platform, “The Port.” With inspiration coming from his experiences while living in LA Harbor, the vision at Arkisys is to make space “ports” function just as Earth-based global trade and services hubs do today. Arkisys’ unique Port Modules were designed to be modular, scalable, and cost-effective to focus on long-duration sustainability, bucking the traditional model of space systems. Barnhart discusses Arkisys’ distinction in the competitive space tech industry and how their approach is poised to upend satellite operations, including their recent collaboration with the Space Development Agency (SDA).

Can you share the inspiration behind Arkisys and what motivated you to build ‘The Port’ as one of the first long-duration space platforms?

The idea was sparked from living on a boat in the busiest harbour on the West Coast, the LA Harbor! Reflecting on global industrial growth, it became clear that new industries flourished at almost every major nexus of trade, goods, services, and people. The largest examples of these in a truly global world are nautical ports that connect the globe. Similarly, the vision was to create the first “Ports” in space to advance humanity as a spacefaring civilisation. These would replicate the high volume of arrivals, departures, services, trade, and commerce in nautical ports worldwide. Thus, the “Port Module” was born.

How does Arkisys distinguish itself from other space technology companies in the increasingly competitive space economy?

Our primary “Port Module” is designed for sustainability and long duration from the outset. Unlike typical satellites limited to a single mission or lifespan, our Port features 60 “berths” that enable post-launch connectivity. This allows for the addition, movement, and replacement of components, transforming it into a modular platform akin to giant LEGO blocks. Moreover, we start small to develop the market and are pre-designed to scale as needed—at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. To our knowledge, no other non-crewed space system is designed this way.

The SDA recently selected Arkisys to explore on-orbit services for the PWSA. Could you elaborate on what this means for the future of space operations?

The SDA is exploring how a long-duration platform could enable and maintain a large satellite constellation. Currently, constellations rely on low-cost satellites and frequent launches. New satellites must be built and launched to replace old ones when issues arise, creating a non-sustainable cycle. We are evaluating how our Port Modules, equipped with robotics, can disrupt this model. Providing “port-like” operations could reduce turnaround times, enhance mission performance, and fundamentally shift the economic equation.

What aspects of Arkisys’ technology and vision align with the SDA’s constellation maintenance and augmentation goals?

Our ability to leverage a continuous supply chain to a single platform within manoeuvring distance of satellite planes aligns with SDA’s goals. Offering cost-effective services for satellite upkeep supports performance longevity. This shifts the model from “throwaway” to “sustainable,” making such solutions more realistic and economically viable.

‘The Port’ aims to offer a range of services in space. Could you provide a deeper insight into the key services it will support and the type of customers you envision utilizing it?

Our business model revolves around providing “services.” These include hosting new payloads and experiments, creating an orbital marketplace for leasing operational components, refuelling, manipulating, assembling, and aggregating new space capabilities. An autonomous robotic platform will support all of this. Customers may range from research institutions and governments to commercial entities seeking operational flexibility and innovation in space.

What challenges did you face in designing a long-duration platform like ‘The Port,’ and how were they overcome?

The traditional method of building monolithic, custom platforms for spacecraft has been standard for 50 years. Creating a modular and aggregatable platform like ‘The Port’ was significantly more complex. However, the potential success unlocks entirely new industries and use cases. Our innovation allows components to be added post-launch, overturning conventional design paradigms. This flexibility provides unparalleled testing, growth, repair, and maintenance opportunities in space.

What are Arkisys’ next major milestones in developing ‘The Port,’ and what excites you most about the journey ahead?

Our next milestone is the launch of the “Cutter,” a smaller spacecraft designed to dock with our Port Modules in any orbit. Acting like a harbour tug, the Cutter will deliver fuel, cargo, payloads, and components quarterly. We aim for its first flight by late 2025 or early 2026 to validate key technologies and operations. What excites me most are the “undiscovered markets” that will emerge after launch. The unprecedented capabilities of a resilient servicing platform in orbit will inspire others to innovate, driving the shift from a disposable culture in space to one of sustainability and boundless growth.