World’s first orbital power grid will be launched in 2025
Star Catcher Industries announced that it has received $12 25 000 in funding to create the world's first orbital energy network. Under the project, spacecraft will collect solar energy and transmit it to other satellites in orbit.
Collecting energy in space has a number of advantages. The lack of weather and time-of-day effects allows electricity to be generated around the clock. Instead of delivering energy to Earth, as previously planned, Star Catcher will provide energy to other satellites in orbit.
The energy network will consist of Power Nodes, which will be able to capture solar energy and transmit it in a concentrated beam with a power of up to 150 kW to the nearest satellites. The development does not require modernization of existing systems, as the method used is compatible with modern solar panels.
In addition, the performance of existing vehicles can be increased by 5-10 times. Star Catcher plans to put the first prototypes into orbit by the end of 2025, after which commercial deployment of the energy network will begin.