A Startup Is Launching An Orbital Power Grid That Beams Energy With Lasers

Laser-Based Power Grids in Orbit Could Unlock the Next Era of Space Industry

The vision of deploying massive data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities in orbit faces a significant logistical bottleneck: energy consumption. Currently, spacecraft are limited by the physical constraints of onboard solar arrays and chemical batteries, a hurdle that prevents the scaling of power-intensive operations such as orbital artificial intelligence and complex production lines. A Florida-based aerospace startup is now launching a bold solution, testing a system that could turn the vacuum of space into an electrified grid.

Star Catcher has officially deployed its Protostar satellite, a prototype designed to demonstrate the feasibility of wireless power transmission between spacecraft. By utilizing concentrated laser beams, the company aims to provide a continuous flow of electricity to other satellites, potentially revolutionizing how we power long-term missions.

The concept relies on “power nodes”—specialized satellites equipped with an array of lenses. These nodes capture diffuse solar radiation and convert the energy into focused laser beams. According to the company, these beams are tuned to specific wavelengths optimized for high-efficiency transmission, allowing standard solar panels already present on most satellites to convert the incoming light into usable electricity. Star Catcher suggests this technology could enable existing satellites to generate up to 10 times more power than traditional solar harvesting allows.

For the space industry, the implications are profound. If successful, this technology could allow engineers to design satellites with smaller, lighter power systems, freeing up critical mass for more advanced scientific or commercial hardware. It also offers a potential lifeline for legacy satellites currently suffering from degrading battery performance, extending their operational lifespans significantly.

The Protostar mission marks the first time the full cycle—from energy collection and precision target tracking to wireless transmission—will be tested in an orbital environment. The spacecraft is currently attempting to beam power to a companion cubesat deployed during the same mission. As cofounder and CEO Andrew Rush noted in a press release, the primary constraint on the modern space economy is power, and the team views this demonstration as a pivotal step toward building a functional orbital grid.

This launch follows a series of successful ground-based milestones. In 2025, the team achieved a record-breaking 1.1-kilowatt power transfer to solar panels at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Later that same year, they validated their precision tracking software during an on-orbit demonstration.

Despite these successes, experts caution that the path to a scalable orbital grid is steep. Scaling from the current prototype to the high power levels required for commercial-grade industrial platforms involves significant technical hurdles, including complex heat management and the requirement for long-term hardware durability in the harsh radiation environment of space. Researchers, including Hanieh Fattahi of the Max Planck Institute, have emphasized that maintaining precise alignment while transmitting power across distances remains a non-trivial engineering challenge.

Star Catcher is already looking beyond the Protostar mission, with plans for a follow-up satellite specifically engineered to beam operational-grade power levels. Market confidence appears strong, with the company reporting that it has already secured 10 power purchase agreements and over 40 letters of intent from industry partners. As the Protostar mission unfolds, it serves as a critical test for whether power in space can finally become a utility rather than a luxury.