VPT Targets Booming NewSpace Market with High-Efficiency Power Converter

BLACKSBURG, VA – February 04, 2026 – By Patrick Griffin

VPT, Inc., a prominent supplier of power conversion solutions, today announced a significant expansion of its product line for the burgeoning commercial space industry. The company has released the VSCPL1210SG, a point of load (PoL) DC-DC converter designed specifically for the cost-sensitive and rapidly growing NewSpace market. This new component is the first of its kind in VPT’s award-winning VSC Series of space-grade commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) power supplies, completing a full power-conversion solution for satellite manufacturers.

Delivering up to 10 A of output current with a peak efficiency of 95%, the VSCPL1210SG is engineered to meet the unique demands of smaller satellites operating in low Earth orbits (LEO) and missions designated as NASA Class D. These missions operate under tight budget constraints where guaranteed performance must be balanced with affordability. The launch positions VPT to capture a larger share of a space economy that is expanding at an unprecedented rate, driven by private investment and technological innovation.

Powering the NewSpace Revolution

The introduction of the VSCPL1210SG comes at a pivotal moment for the space industry. The global space economy, valued at over $630 billion in 2023, is projected to surge to nearly $1.8 trillion by 2035. A major driver of this explosive growth is the NewSpace sector, characterized by private companies launching vast constellations of LEO satellites for applications ranging from global broadband internet to Earth observation and IoT connectivity.

This commercialization has been supercharged by dramatically reduced launch costs, thanks to reusable rocket technology, and the miniaturization of satellite components. However, this new paradigm creates a pressing need for components that strike a difficult balance: they must be reliable enough to survive the harsh radiation and temperature extremes of space but affordable enough to be used in constellations numbering in the thousands. VPT’s new converter is aimed squarely at this gap in the market.

A 'Goldilocks' Solution for LEO Missions

Historically, satellite engineers faced a stark choice between prohibitively expensive, fully radiation-hardened components designed for multi-decade missions and standard commercial parts with no guarantee of survival in orbit. The VSCPL1210SG is engineered to be a "Goldilocks" solution for the LEO environment.

As part of VPT's VSC Series, the converter is designed for NewSpace and NASA Class D missions, which tolerate higher risk for lower cost and faster development cycles. The component has undergone rigorous testing, guaranteed for a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of 30 krad(Si) and demonstrating no destructive single event effects (SEE) up to 42 MeV/mg/cm². This level of radiation tolerance is ideal for the LEO environment, where radiation is a persistent but less severe threat than in deeper space.

"We designed the VSCPL1210SG to deliver high efficiency, tight regulation, and simplified board-level integration while maintaining the radiation tolerance required for LEO environments," said Brandon Witcher, Principal Design Engineer at VPT. "The goal was to meet NewSpace performance needs without pushing beyond the cost constraints that define this market."

The converter's 95% peak efficiency is a critical differentiator. In the power-constrained environment of a small satellite, every watt counts. Higher efficiency means less power is wasted as heat, easing thermal management challenges and maximizing the power available for the mission's payload. This stands in sharp contrast to older, less efficient radiation-hardened designs that can operate at efficiencies as low as 60%, becoming a significant drain on a satellite's limited power budget. Furthermore, its ability to operate from –55 °C to +105 °C without derating ensures consistent performance as satellites cycle between the freezing cold of Earth's shadow and the intense heat of direct sunlight.

A Strategic Move in a Competitive Field

VPT, a subsidiary of the HEICO Corporation, is not alone in targeting the lucrative NewSpace components market. Competitors like Microchip Technology, Vicor Corporation, and Teledyne HiRel are also offering radiation-tolerant solutions. The market for space DC-DC converters is projected to grow to over $118 million by 2032, and the non-isolated segment, which includes point of load converters, commands the largest market share due to its efficiency and compact size.

However, VPT's launch is a calculated strategic move. The VSCPL1210SG is not just a standalone product; it is the final piece in a comprehensive power solution that now includes isolated DC-DC converters, EMI filters, and point of load converters under the VSC Series umbrella. This allows satellite manufacturers to source a complete, pre-validated power ecosystem from a single, trusted vendor, simplifying design and procurement.

To further solidify its position, VPT has already announced plans to expand the series later this year with two additional converters offering 10 A and 20 A outputs. This forward-looking roadmap signals the company's long-term commitment to serving the evolving needs of satellite builders. The backing of HEICO provides the financial stability and extensive market access necessary to support this ambitious strategy, leveraging HEICO's deep relationships with defense, aerospace, and space contractors worldwide. By providing a high-performance, cost-effective, and complete power solution, VPT is positioning itself as a key enabler of the ongoing commercial space race.