The concept of space-based solar power is swiftly becoming a reality, and it may not be confined to the realm of science fiction for much longer.
Star Catcher Industries, a Florida-based startup, has secured $12.25 million in seed funding to support the development of its power-beaming satellite constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). The company plans to launch the first of these satellites as early as next year.
According to a statement made by Andrew Sather, principal at Initialized Capital, Star Catcher is projected to revolutionize orbital power in the same way that SpaceX has transformed the launch industry. Sather is confident in the capabilities of the experienced commercial space team behind Star Catcher, who are swiftly executing an ambitious vision. Initialized Capital led the seed funding round along with B Capital.
Sather expressed that the work being carried out has the capability to revolutionize the economics, capabilities, and structure of everything we launch into orbit.
Star Catcher, a Jacksonville-based company, is aiming to cater to a unique clientele – satellites in orbit. With the rapidly growing market of megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is expected to house approximately 50,000 spacecraft by 2030, which is a five-fold increase from the current number. Star Catcher is hoping to tap into this market by providing juice to these orbiting satellites.
Star Catcher plans to send a fleet of “power node” satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO), with an altitude of approximately 900 miles (1,500 kilometers). These satellites will absorb solar energy and transmit it in a usable form to the customer satellites.
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“In-space power grid and service is our way of expanding the foundational building block of civilization and industry, which is power infrastructure, into LEO and beyond,” stated Andrew Rush, the CEO, president, and co-founder of Star Catcher.
He added that the ability to purchase power for spacecraft at any time and place in LEO will broaden opportunities and speed up the realization of humanity’s potential in the second golden age of space.
Star Catcher was co-founded by Rush, along with space investor Bryan Lyandvert and Michael Snyder, whom Rush had previously worked with. Rush had served as the president and CEO of Made In Space, a company involved in off-Earth manufacturing, which was co-founded by Snyder. Snyder had also been the chief engineer of Made In Space.
After Redwire acquired Made In Space in 2020, Rush assumed the roles of president and chief operating officer, while Snyder served as the chief technology officer of Redwire.
According to the company’s statement, Star Catcher has plans to utilize the seed funding to validate its power-beaming technology. They intend to achieve this by conducting ground demonstrations, followed by an on-orbit demonstration in late 2025 and ultimately deploying commercial service.
“When satellites are in use, operators can adopt a shared infrastructure approach, freeing them from the limitations of power consumption based on the resources carried by the satellites.”