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Aetherflux, a pioneering space solar startup founded by Baiju Bhatt, the billionaire co-founder of Robinhood, has successfully secured $50 million in Series A funding. The company is focused on advancing space-based solar power technology and aims to launch its initial low Earth orbit demonstration mission in 2026. This venture seeks to provide renewable energy solutions by harnessing solar power from space.
Ambitious Space-Based Solar Power Initiative
The San Carlos, California-based startup, which recently emerged from stealth operations, is pursuing the ambitious goal of deploying a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites are designed to capture solar energy and wirelessly transmit it to terrestrial receiving stations, known as “ground stations.” This concept draws inspiration from Isaac Asimov’s 1941 science fiction story “Reason,” and Bhatt is committed to transforming this imaginative idea into a tangible reality.
Demonstration Mission and Funding Milestones
A crucial initial step for Aetherflux is to successfully launch a satellite into orbit to validate its core technology. According to Bhatt, the company’s founder and CEO, this mission aims to “demonstrate that we have made this transformative progress of going from humans not having power from space to, for the very first time, there being power from space for humans.”
This upcoming launch, planned for next year, will be supported by the newly acquired capital from the Series A funding round. This round increases Aetherflux’s total funding to $60 million, which includes a previous $10 million investment from Bhatt himself. The Series A round was spearheaded by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures (founded by Bill Gates), Andreessen Horowitz, and NEA, alongside notable individual investors such as Jared Leto.
Allocation of New Capital
Bhatt stated that Aetherflux will utilize the raised funds to expand its engineering team and invest in the necessary technology and infrastructure to support its initial missions.
“Our team is currently prioritizing the development of the payload, which is integrated with the satellite bus,” Bhatt explained. “This payload is responsible for converting the power generated by the satellite bus into laser power for transmission.”
Technology and Infrastructure
Aetherflux has selected Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus for its mission. A satellite bus serves as the foundational structure and system of a satellite, providing essential operational functions like power generation, propulsion, and communication. Utilizing solar panels, these buses typically generate power. Bhatt detailed that the power produced, potentially up to one kilowatt of energy, will be transmitted back to Earth via laser technology.
Ground Station Development
On the receiving end, Aetherflux is developing “ground stations” composed of photovoltaic arrays. These arrays will convert the incoming laser energy back into electricity, which can then be stored in batteries for later use. Bhatt mentioned that their team, comprising engineers and researchers with experience from organizations like NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, and the U.S. Navy, is actively involved in establishing Aetherflux’s first ground station.
While the precise location for this initial ground station is still under evaluation, the startup is considering military sites due to the controlled airspace they offer.
Future Vision: Portable Energy Solutions
Looking ahead, Bhatt envisions developing smaller, more portable ground stations, ranging from 5 to 10 meters in diameter. These compact stations are intended to deliver electricity to even the most geographically isolated locations.
Demonstrating End-to-End Power Transfer
“The primary objective of our first mission is to demonstrate the complete end-to-end power link,” Bhatt emphasized. “We aim to prove that we can effectively generate electricity on the ground and utilize it to power applications, such as illuminating a light installation or operating electronic devices.”
Prior Achievements in Space-Based Power
Successfully transmitting solar power from space to Earth remains a rare achievement. A notable prior success was in 2023 when researchers at Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project showcased wireless power transmission from low Earth orbit using microwave beaming. While this demonstrated the feasibility of the concept, it does not yet represent the scalable, commercial system that Aetherflux is striving to create.
Defense Department Support
Aetherflux’s recent funding success follows an award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund. This award is specifically intended to support the development of space solar power solutions for the U.S. military, highlighting the growing interest in and strategic importance of this emerging technology.