WASHINGTON — A new startup founded by a financial services entrepreneur is taking a fresh approach to space-based solar power (SBSP), aiming to make it more scalable and cost-effective than previous ideas.
On Oct. 9, Aetherflux announced its plan to create a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit to gather solar energy and transmit it to Earth via infrared lasers. The company aims to showcase this technology with a small satellite launch by early 2026.
This concept marks a shift from traditional SBSP designs, which typically involved large solar arrays in geostationary orbit. Earlier systems proposed transmitting power through microwaves to massive ground-based receivers. Although these ideas have been explored for over 50 years, none have progressed beyond the conceptual stage.
“The main reason this hasn’t happened is that the traditional design is not one that you can evolve or improve upon incrementally,” said Baiju Bhatt, founder and CEO of Aetherflux. “It’s all or nothing.”
Bhatt explained that Aetherflux’s method is modular, using a network of smaller satellites in low Earth orbit that can be developed progressively. “Our infrared laser-based power transmission system can be built on a spacecraft of any size,” he added.
The company’s initial mission will involve a “kilowatt-class” satellite, built with the help of Apex, that will transmit power using an infrared laser to a 10-meter-wide target on the ground. Future satellites will generate more power while reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour.
This approach comes with technical challenges, including needing a satellite network to transfer power from one satellite to another for consistent coverage. Additionally, the satellites will need power storage to operate during nighttime hours.
Aetherflux initially focuses on defence applications, such as powering remote forward operating bases, where transporting fuel can be difficult. Bhatt noted that SBSP has long been considered for such uses. A 2007 study by the National Security Space Office suggested SBSP could be valuable for military applications but saw little follow-up from the government. Bhatt, however, was unfamiliar with that report.
Aetherflux’s strategy follows a “crawl, walk, run” model. The initial phase involves demonstrating the technology, with later stages aimed at commercial viability and eventually powering larger applications globally.
Bhatt is personally funding Aetherflux, investing “in the ten-million-dollar range” to support the company through its first demo mission. Bhatt, a co-founder and former co-CEO of Robinhood, said Aetherflux currently employs fewer than 10 people.
Ongoing SBSP Studies
Interest in space-based solar power has fluctuated over the years. A NASA report in January expressed scepticism about SBSP, concluding that power generated by these systems would likely be much more expensive than other renewable energy sources on Earth.
Bhatt acknowledged the report, which primarily focused on large-scale SBSP projects, but said it didn’t address the modular approach Aetherflux is pursuing. “It doesn’t provide much insight into how to get started,” he remarked.
Some SBSP advocates criticized the NASA report and are conducting their own research. A new study, supported by the National Space Society and other organizations, is set to be presented at an Oct. 12 workshop in Milan, ahead of the International Astronautical Congress.
John Mankins, a longtime SBSP advocate leading the study, noted at a recent conference that new launch vehicles like SpaceX’s Starship could reduce launch costs by up to 99%. He proposed a geostationary SBSP system requiring about 60 Starship launches, a scenario that was hard to imagine a decade ago but is now feasible.
Although Bhatt was unaware of this latest study, he remains confident in his own approach. “I’ve read enough to know that I’m ready to move forward with my vision,” he concluded.
