Theses›Space›Space power beaming

Space power beaming

Laser (and some microwave) power beaming is moving from ground records to the first in-orbit tests, led by Star Catcher's Protostar (launched 1 Oct 2026).

  • Bear
  • Not dated
  • $1.3B by 2035

The callAn orbital power grid is physically possible now, but almost every spacecraft can fit a bigger array and battery for less; the paying market barely exists.

D1D2R1R2R3C1foragainst D1D2R1R2R3C1foragainst
Fig. 1The balance. Drivers and catalysts against restraints, each block sized by its weight; catalysts hang dashed because they have not happened yet, sized by their odds. It tips toward the restraints.
  1. D1Compute and industry start moving into orbit: Cowboy Space pivoted to orbital datacentres at a $2B valuation, and lunar bases and drone fleets need power in shadow.
  2. D2Defence money and the first orbit tests: DARPA put 800W across 8.6km and Star Catcher launched Protostar on 1 Oct 2026.
  3. R1Most spacecraft can fit a bigger array and battery for less than about $400/kWh delivered, and megaconstellations make their own power.
  4. R2Beamed power comes off another satellite's array at 10-30% end to end, and tokens from orbit cost about 8x Earth on flown hardware, 2x with free launch.
  5. R3No acquisition of a beaming company is on record, and Energous, the only listed wireless-power company, is worth $59.6M on $10.5M of revenue.
  6. C1Star Catcher's Protostar completes the first power transfer between two free-flying spacecraft, with watts and range disclosed.30 Jun 2027
Rests onthe beliefs underneath
Supported by · confidence
What would prove itdated tests, open and resolved
2027202820292030today12345predictionswatch 2027202820292030today12345predictionswatch
Fig. 2Each ring is a dated test: dashed while open, struck through when overdue, ticked or crossed once resolved.
  1. 1Star Catcher (or any company) publishes a successful power transfer between two free-flying spacecraft, with delivered power and range disclosed, by 30 Jun 2027.Jun 2027 · open
  2. 2A US DoD or Space Force procurement (not R&D) for in-orbit power delivery as a service is awarded by end-2028.Dec 2028 · open
  3. 3A US DoD or Space Force procurement, not R&D, for in-orbit power as a service.Dec 2028 · open
  4. 4No space power-beaming company reports more than $10M a year of revenue from selling power by end-2029.Dec 2029 · open
  5. 5Any beaming company passes $10M a year from selling power; a paid contract from an independent operator would promote it.Dec 2029 · open
Expressionslisted, private, technologies
  • AIR.PAAirbus SE
    • fair
  • LDO.MILeonardo S.p.a.
    • fair
  • PLPlanet Labs
    • expensive
  • RDWRedwire
    • full
  • NOCNorthrop Grumman
    • not screened
  • RTXRTX
    • not screened
     Develops optical power-beaming relays under DARPA POWER ($10M phase-1 contract, Aug 2023) for military use.
  • 7011.TMitsubishi Heavy Industries
    • not screened
  • 9432.TNTT
    • not screened
     Runs laser power-transmission research with MHI, including a 1 km link at 15% light-to-electricity efficiency.
Private · 9 private companies, 6 of them in the US; none in continental Europe.

Star Catcher Industries · Aetherflux · Overview Energy · PowerLight Technologies · Volta Space Technologies · TerraSpark · Virtus Solis · Emrod · Reach Power

4 more private companies tracked, not shown

Who has already bet on itprivate rounds, from public sources

$114M raised by 5 companies, $79M of it in the last three years. Wave building: Money is arriving: recent rounds and tier-1 funds are in, but no runaway leader yet.

Backed by a top-tier venture firm: Overview Energy. Backed by a strategic investor: TerraSpark.

  • $88MStar Catcher Industries
    • Founded 2024
     Series A, May 2026 $65M (B Capital, Shield Capital, Cerberus Ventures)
  • $20MOverview Energy Seed $20M (Lowercarbon Capital, Prime Movers Lab)
  • $6MTerraSpark Pre-seed, Mar 2026 $6M (Daphni, Sake Bosch, better ventures)
  • ·Volta Space Technologies Rounds not itemised
  • ·Virtus Solis Seed, Mar 2024 (URBAN-X)
What changedthe record, newest first
  • 7 Oct 2026Power beaming between spacecraft has its first in-orbit test this month, but the market for buying power in orbit still looks like a few hundred million dollars at the end of the decade.
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