Princeton Satellite Systems

Princeton Satellite Systems, Inc. (PSS) was founded in 1992 by Michael Paluszek, a veteran of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory who supported early Space Shuttle missions and space station programs. Headquartered in Plainsboro, New Jersey, PSS describes itself as a small company specializing in advanced aerospace and energy technology, with aerospace expertise spanning over 30 years. The company serves U.S. government agencies including NASA, DoD, DOE, and ARPA-E under research and development contracts, while also selling commercial software and hardware products globally.

PSS is best known for two parallel technology lines: its MATLAB-based spacecraft design and control toolboxes used by engineers and universities worldwide, and its work on Direct Fusion Drive (now branded Starfire) — a compact fusion-powered rocket engine developed in partnership with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The Starfire concept targets 1–10 MW per engine with high specific power, enabling deep space missions to Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and beyond.

Beyond propulsion, PSS develops guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) systems, flight software, CubeSat hardware, optical navigation sensors, and power electronics for plasma generation. The company developed complete flight software for the Indostar geosynchronous satellite and continues to push research frontiers in hypersonics, advanced nuclear systems, and spacecraft autonomy.