Our Mission: To create the landscape and conditions for commercial Space Solar Power technology by the U.S. to become successful and self-sustaining.
SSP Bulletin
Space Frontier Foundation Updates
The International Conference on Energy from Space 2025, organized by Space Energy Insights and the Space Frontier Foundation, will take place from November 19 to 21 in France. The theme for this year's conference is "Energy for Security." The full program is listed here. Register for the conference here!
Notable News
Space Solar received the Space Business Catalyst Award at World Satellite Business Week 2025 by Thales Alenia Space in Paris. This award honors organizations that show exceptional potential in shaping the future of the space sector, recognizing their technological progress and industry impact. Additionally, Space Solar was named one of the BE100 companies for 2025 by Blue Earth Summit.
Star Catcher Industries, Inc. recently made a significant advancement in wireless power transmission at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They successfully transmitted over 1.1 kilowatts of laser energy to solar panels more than one kilometer away, setting a new record. This achievement is important for creating a scalable orbital power grid to supply energy to satellites, spacecraft, and off-Earth installations.
Volta has received funding from the Canadian Space Agency to create LightPort, the first laser power receiver for the Moon, set to launch in 2026. It will convert laser energy into power, extending lunar missions. This mission will test Volta's technology and support future energy systems.
Stoke Space Technologies has raised $510 million in a Series D funding round, plus a $100 million debt facility, totaling about $990 million in funding. Led by the U. S. Innovative Technology Fund, the funds will help scale manufacturing of the Nova launch vehicle and support its launch at Cape Canaveral in early 2026. The Nova rocket is designed for low-cost, high-frequency access to orbit, making it suitable for space solar power deployment. Nova aims to provide reliable launch services for various missions, particularly supporting the development of orbital solar power stations.
EnduroSat has chosenSolestial to provide radiation-hardened silicon solar modules for its FRAME satellite platform, launching in H1 2026. The deal includes deliveries in 2025 and an option for 7 kW of extra solar power for future growth. EnduroSat plans to produce up to 60 FRAME satellites per month starting Q2 2026.
The article by CNN discusses the idea of building data centers in space. Startups and tech companies are looking into using solar power and natural cooling.
Star Catcher Industries has achieved a breakthrough in wireless power transmission by successfully beaming electricity to solar panels over a distance of more than one kilometer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They used high-powered infrared lasers in this ground test, supporting their goal to create a SBSP grid.
Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying twin NASA Mars orbiters, EscaPADE (“Blue” and “Gold”). This mission, the first with a science payload, successfully landed the first-stage booster at sea after overcoming weather and storm delays. The orbiters will reach Mars in 2027.
Experience Power 2025 took place from October 29 to 31 in Denver, Colorado, gathering energy leaders to discuss decarbonization and grid modernization. Dr. Leet Wood from the Space Frontier Foundation discussed SBSP. He explained how it can provide consistent, clean energy by collecting solar power from space. Wood noted that lower launch costs and better energy transmission make SBSP a viable option for future energy needs.
The International Conference on Energy from Space 2025, sponsored by Space Energy Insights and the Space Frontier Foundation, was held on November 19-21 in France. This year's theme was "Energy for Security". Check out more about the conference here. This update will be covered in detail in the next newsletter.
SSP Systems Enablers
Falcomm has raised $5.8 million in an oversubscribed Seed II round, totaling $10.5 million in two years. The funding, led by a strategic aerospace investor, will enhance its RF technology used in various sectors. The company aims to develop products faster, grow its engineering team, and invest in AI tools.
Upcoming Events
The Lunar and Mars Economy Summit is organized by Payload Space and will be held on October 14-15, 2025, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. It aims to bring together space industry leaders to discuss the future of the lunar and Martian economies, covering topics like resource utilization, transportation, and collaboration efforts. Paul Damphousse is giving an exclusive look at how Volta is delivering energy with lasers for the lunar surface.
A webinar titled “Solar Power from Space: A Game Changer for Arctic Energy? ” on November 12 at 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM GMT. Experts including John Mankins, Sam Adlen, Karin Hinzer, and Dr. Heather Katharine Allansdottir will discuss the potential of space-based solar power for Arctic communities.
Infrastructure attacks on energy systems pose a serious threat to national security and public safety. Recent attacks in Ukraine, where Russian forces targeted power plants and lines, and drone strikes on oil fields in Iraq, demonstrate the harmful effects on electricity supply and the economy. These incidents show how centralized energy systems can be vulnerable to coordinated assaults. SBSP is a potential solution to enhance energy security. Unlike traditional energy systems, SBSP generates electricity in space, free from weather disruptions and other terrestrial issues. This energy can be transmitted to Earth-based stations, providing a reliable power source even when ground-based systems fail due to attacks. SBSP could keep essential services like hospitals and shelters running during crises.
The growth of AI-driven data centers is putting huge demands on local electricity systems due to their continuous use of high-performance GPUs, leading to higher wholesale electricity prices. Traditional infrastructure struggles with this increased demand and requires costly upgrades, impacting households and businesses through rising energy bills and potential reliability issues. Space-based solar power (SBSP) offers a promising solution by capturing solar energy in orbit and transmitting it to Earth, providing a steady and clean energy source that bypasses terrestrial grid limitations. This could meet the energy needs of data centers, helping stabilize electricity prices. The development of orbital computing, like the upcoming Starcloud-1 satellite featuring NVIDIA’s H100 GPU, aims to create large-scale data centers in space. These centers would use solar power and the natural cooling of orbit. Despite challenges like radiation and maintenance, they could significantly relieve the pressure on Earth's energy grids. Combining terrestrial and space solutions could ensure sustainable energy for future AI demands.
SSP Coverage in the News
Outsiders' Perspectives
The article “Endles Sunlight, Endless Costs: The Economic Reality of Space Solar Power” by CleanTechnica discusses the challenges of harnessing solar energy from space. While the idea is attractive due to constant sunlight, it is currently not economically feasible. High costs for launching and assembling equipment in orbit mean a gigawatt-scale solar array would cost billions just for lift. The article concludes that unless significant cost reductions occur, space solar power is not a practical energy solution.
This article by DW discusses the expansion of SBSP technologies beyond traditional rooftops and fields. Solar modules are now being placed over roads, parking lots, and noise barriers, providing shade and reducing sound while generating electricity. Agrivoltaics allows crops to thrive under solar panels, and floating solar parks utilize water surfaces for generation. Future ideas could change the energy market, further influencing SBSP's importance.
Big Think reports that Reflect Orbital is working on a bold idea to create large mirrors in space that would redirect sunlight to solar farms on Earth at night, offering “solar power at night. ” This proposal has drawn both interest and skepticism from scientists and engineers. The project faces many challenges, including high costs, complex technology, and risks like light pollution and space debris, making it a highly debated and uncertain initiative.
The article by The Journal of Space Commerce discusses SBSP and how it could provide ~20% of global energy by 2050 and significantly reduce Europe's renewable energy shortfall. The technology offers consistent power and efficient land use. Despite cost concerns, supporters see it as a key clean energy solution.
The World Economic Forum article discusses SBSP as a clean energy source that collects sunlight in orbit and beams it to Earth. It highlights SBSP's potential in the global energy transition, aided by tech advances and partnerships.
The article by Universe Today examines a study about large solar power satellites in geostationary orbit and their ability to deliver power to Earth. It finds that ground related issues, like satellite spacing and the need for large receiving antennas near the equator, limit the number of effective satellites from thousands to a few hundred.
The article from BBC discusses the idea of using solar-power satellites in space to collect sunlight and send energy to Earth. It explains the benefits of SBSP, like constant energy generation and high solar intensity, but also notes significant challenges, including high costs and regulatory issues.
Future Market Insights Project states that the SBSP market will expand from USD 3.3 billion in 2025 to USD 7.2 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%. Microwave power transmission will lead the market, holding 63.8% of the share. The growth is fueled by advancements in satellite technology and government support for renewable energy. The market will enter scaling from 2025 to 2030 and then consolidate from 2030 to 2035.
Yahoo Finance states that the first projection estimates that the SBSP market will grow to $1.05 billion by 2030 and $4.19 billion by 2040, highlighting microwave transmission as the most efficient method but noting high initial costs as a challenge. The second projection predicts growth from $425.7 million in 2020 to $902.2 million by 2030, with a 7.8% annual growth rate driven by clean energy demand.
The SBSP market is projected to expand significantly in the next twenty years. Future Market Insights predicts that the growth will be $3.3 billion in 2025 to $7.2 billion by 2035, and Yahoo Finance estimates a rise from $425.7 million in 2020 to $4.19 billion by 2040. Microwave power transmission will lead the market, despite high initial costs. Growth is expected and aided by improvements in satellite technology and government support for renewable energy.
The OilPrice.com article discusses the potential of SBSP to transform energy collection. It highlights how orbiting solar arrays could provide constant energy to Earth, significantly reducing renewable resource needs and costs. Startups are seeking government and military contracts to progress towards commercial success.
The article “Turning Sunlight into Sovereignty” by Building Our Picture discusses NASA's interest in SBSP for reliable energy on Earth and in space. It highlights NASA's research on solar arrays and energy supply for lunar bases, framing SBSP as vital for energy security and geopolitical influence.
The article by MSN discusses how SBSP is emerging as a clean energy source, with NASA and others working on technology to gather sunlight in space and send it to Earth. Countries like Japan and U. S. institutions are testing systems. International cooperation and regulations are crucial for advancing SBSP for a global energy shift.
The article by award-winning journalist Jennifer L. Schenker discusses the ideas of SBSP throughout history. It could provide ~20% of global energy by 2050 and significantly reduce Europe's renewable energy shortfall. The technology offers consistent power and efficient land use. Despite cost concerns, supporters see it as a key clean energy solution.
Experts and Advocates on SSP
A new documentary titled Bright Harvest: Powering Earth From Space shows the innovative advancements of three Caltech professors of space solar power (SBSP). Produced by Brigitte Bren and written and directed by Steven Reich, the documentary follows professors Harry Atwater, Ali Hajimiri, and Sergio Pellegrino as they collaborate on their scientific breakthrough. It discusses their success in transmitting solar power wirelessly from space. This technology allows for continuous energy collection, unlike traditional solar panels.
John Bucknell, CEO and Founder of Virtus Solis, is collaborating with David Lindover in the Return on Insights podcast. Lindover shares his experiences balancing priorities in corporate and startup roles.
Martin Soltau spoke on a panel at ELUK 2025 (October 15–16 at The Oval) about innovative technologies for achieving Net Zero. The session will discuss SBSP's role in providing reliable energy. Soltau emphasizes the importance of this technology following recent grid blackouts in Spain and Portugal.
The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) paper discusses SBSP as a flexible energy source rather than just a constant baseload provider. It suggests that future cost reductions could make SBSP competitive, with costs potentially dropping to $0.09–$0.17 per kWh.
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