TAMPA, Fla. — Star Catcher Industries said it beamed concentrated solar energy over 100 meters March 21 to satellite solar arrays on the ground at EverBank Stadium, Florida, in its first demo of a capability planned for space.
The Jacksonville, Florida-based startup said it successfully powered multiple off-the-shelf solar arrays, validating its vision for a space-based power grid that would not require customer satellites to be retrofitted or equipped with custom receivers.
“This demonstration marks the first end-to-end test of our space power beaming technology, proving we can collect and wirelessly transmit energy with the precision needed for space applications,” said Star Catcher co-founder and CEO Andrew Rush.
“Today’s success puts us one step closer to eliminating power constraints in space and unlocking new capabilities for satellites and the customers they serve.”
Star Catcher did not disclose how much power was transmitted during the test.
The venture plans a larger demonstration this summer at a former Space Shuttle landing site at Cape Canaveral, where it aims to beam hundreds of watts of energy across more than a kilometer to multiple simulated satellites.
Testing at the Cape is slated to include multiple moving representative client satellites, validating tracking capabilities needed for the 200 power-beaming satellites Star Catcher has proposed for low Earth orbit, which would supply energy to spacecraft also moving in LEO.
Star Catcher spokesperson Camille Bergin said the venture plans to conduct its first in-orbit demonstration in 2026. The startup has not set a timeline for when it could provide commercial services.
This article was updated March 24 with more details about Star Catcher’s planned ground and in-orbit tests.