Space Solar Firm Sets New Record for Long-Distance Wireless Power Transmission

Space-based solar power company Star Catcher Industries has achieved a major milestone, breaking the world record for wirelessly transmitting electricity over long distances. The company’s Star Catcher Network system successfully delivered 1.1 kW of power in recent tests—surpassing the previous benchmark of 800 W, set by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in June 2025. The demonstration used standard commercial solar components and was conducted at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Figure 1. Wirelessly Transmitting Electricity.

Toward 24/7 Space Solar Energy

The achievement marks a significant step toward making space-based solar power commercially viable—a vision first outlined in 1968 by aerospace engineer Peter Glaser, who proposed placing giant solar arrays in orbit and transmitting energy to Earth via microwave beams. Unlike ground-based solar farms, satellites can remain in constant sunlight, unaffected by weather or night cycles, and could provide continuous clean power.

Interest in the technology has grown as countries seek alternatives to fossil fuels. China has been testing large receiver towers, while DARPA has pursued its own research efforts. Star Catcher’s latest results have now pushed the field forward.

Building an Orbital Energy Network

Star Catcher says its approach uses optical power beaming to capture and concentrate solar energy in orbit, convert it into optimized wavelengths, and transmit it wirelessly to satellites. The company claims this could let spacecraft produce two to ten times more power without hardware modification [1]. Although the latest demonstration was ground-based, the firm plans to conduct an in-orbit test next year.

“This demonstration gives real-world validation of our strategy for creating a resilient orbital power grid,” said Andrew Rush, Star Catcher CEO and co-founder. He noted that the results move space-based solar power closer to practical deployment.

Reference:

1. https://interestingengineering.com/space/space-firm-breaks-record-for-wireless-electricity

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), US Space Solar Company Sets New World Record for Transmitting Power Wirelessly from Space, AnaTechMaz, pp.659