Space solar energy may soon shift from the realm of science fiction to reality. American startup Star Catcher Industries has secured $12.25 million in seed funding to develop a constellation of energy satellites for low Earth orbit. Reports suggest that the first satellite could launch as early as next year.
“We are confident that Star Catcher will do for orbital energy what SpaceX has done for launches. This is a seasoned, veteran commercial space team executing a bold vision at high speed,” said Initialized Capital’s Andrew Sather. “What they are building has the potential to transform the economy, capabilities, and even the configuration of nearly everything we send into orbit.”
The company plans to supply power not to customers on Earth but to satellites in orbit. According to the company, this market is rapidly growing thanks to megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink. By 2030, the number of spacecraft in low Earth orbit is expected to increase approximately fivefold, reaching around 50,000.
The startup aims to launch a network of “energy nodes” satellites, sending them to an altitude of about 1500 km. These devices will absorb solar energy and transmit it to customer satellites in a usable form. Andrew Rush, co-founder and president of Star Catcher, noted that energy infrastructure is a fundamental building block of civilization and industry.
“Our goal is to extend this foundation to low Earth orbit and beyond through our space power grid and services,” he said. “The ability to purchase energy for your spacecraft in LEO when and where you need it will enhance capabilities and accelerate humanity’s realization of the potential of the second golden age of space.”
Andrew Rush founded Star Catcher with Michael Snyder and space investor Brian Landver. They previously worked together, with Rush serving as President and CEO of Made In Space, a company focused on extraterrestrial manufacturing, which he co-founded with Snyder. Meanwhile, Michael Snyder was the Chief Engineer at Made In Space.
Star Catcher will use the initial funding to test its energy beam technology. The company plans to start with ground-based demonstrations, followed by an orbital demonstration at the end of 2025, and then roll out the service to commercial clients.
“After deployment, satellite operators will be able to switch to a shared infrastructure where energy consumption will not be limited to what the satellites bring with them,” the startup’s statement says.
Source: space
