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E+T Magazine

The first “space-based energy grid” is under development by Star Catcher Industries, which has secured $12.25m (£9.55m) in an initial funding round.

Once constructed, the Star Catcher Network will be able to beam “significant levels” of broad-spectrum energy to spacecraft in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond. According to the firm, the network will be able to deliver energy on demand and at higher concentrations than existing solar arrays on client spacecraft can provide.

The firm was founded by former Made in Space and Redwire leaders Andrew Rush and Michael Snyder, and has been responsible for replacing solar arrays on the International Space Station, alongside other projects.

The Star Catcher Network will allow satellites to generate between five to 10 times the amount of power they would generate otherwise, even without retrofitting, the firm said. This will allow satellite operators to expand the capabilities and uptime of their projects.

The demand for power-intensive applications...

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  • Apparently this Jacksonville Florida based company will place it's power satellites some 900 miles(1,500 Km) up while the ISS is located at 249 miles (249 miles).

    I assume that a special receiving antenna will be required on (for example) a satellite to receive the transmitted power.

    The other unanswered question is the type of orbits (example polar obit) that will be required.

    Peter Brooks

    Palm Bay 

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