SPHERICAL, a leading innovator in space electronics, has been contracted by Orbital Paradigm to deliver the Power Conditioning and Distribution Unit (PCDU) for its "Learn to Fly" mission expected to launch in 2026. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing modular and configurable power solutions for space applications.

Orbital Paradigm, a Spanish space company, specializes in developing small reusable vehicles designed for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, with applications in microgravity research and in-space industries. These vehicles combine simplicity in mechanical design with a strong emphasis on software-driven flexibility, enabling a wide range of mission profiles. The "Learn to Fly" mission will demonstrate the operational capability of a small re-entry vehicle hosting customer payloads and returning them safely to Earth, paving the way for scalable solutions in space logistics.

“Being able to reconfigure the power system is a gamechanger,” said Francesco Cacciatore, CEO of Orbital Paradigm. “It allows us to quickly iterate on our platform design while integrating diverse customer payloads seamlessly and maintaining flexibility during development. With over 60% of our capacity already pre-booked, having a scalable electrical interface for different customer applications is critical to our mission's success. We also see power configurability as a key element for reusability - we’ll be able to onboard customers on different flights with a wide array of power options without requiring hardware changes.”

SPHERICAL’s proprietary semiconductor technology will be instrumental in delivering a PCDU that is cost-effective, deeply configurable, and highly reliable. This solution will not only support Orbital Paradigm’s immediate mission needs but also position the company for future scalability.

“We are thrilled to partner with Orbital Paradigm to enable software-defined spacecraft for their missions,” said Bastiaan Bom, CCO of SPHERICAL. “The demand for flexible, scalable power systems continues to grow, and Orbital Paradigm is one of several pioneering customers adopting this transformative approach.”

About SPHERICAL
SPHERICAL is an industry leader in the design of dedicated semiconductors and uses them to build electronic subsystems for aerospace, starting with satellites. By designing semiconductors faster and more efficiently, we make satellite subsystems that solve the customer pain by being able to source subsystems that are deeply software configurable while at the same time being highly-reliable for space. We enable satellite integrators to move faster in their design and assembly while removing project risk. 

About Orbital Paradigm
Orbital Paradigm is a space logistics company offering streamlined access to frequent microgravity and re-entry flights from orbit to Earth. Its small, reusable, and software-centric highly autonomous Kestrel spacecraft provides low-acceleration, cost-effective returns with precise arrivals, targeting future landings in continental Europe and serving biotech and advanced materials industries. Future Kestrel iterations will expand to include tactical servicing missions for LEO customers, furthering the vision of space as a hub for industrial production and a pathway for Earth logistics.