The world’s first space-based energy grid

The network provides power to satellites saving mission costs

Spotted: Currently, there is only one way to provide power to satellites in orbit once they have run low, which is to capture the satellite and retrofit it with new batteries. This is an expensive process, and the only way around it is to build satellites with redundancy and back-up power sources, which is also very costly. Now, space startup Star Catcher is developing a solution.

The company is in the process of developing the first ever ‘energy grid’ for space. Its orbital Power Node infrastructure will allow spacecraft to connect to the network and receive energy using their existing solar arrays, without the need for a retrofit.

Star Catcher’s Power Node satellites will collect enough ambient solar energy to provide up to 150 kilowatts of transmission capacity. Client satellites won’t require a transceiver or beacon to receive power from the network, which can identify and track client satellites using data provided by the client.

Each Power Node is designed to service multiple client satellites simultaneously and the Star Catcher Network is designed to service thousands of spacecraft. Star Catcher will own and operate the network with power provided on a pay-as-you-go model.

Star Catcher recently announced the closing of a $12.25 million seed funding round. The funding will be used to further develop and demonstrate its Star Catcher Network. The company has also secured more than half a dozen letters of intent from commercial space companies.

Written By: Lisa Magloff