Aetherflux Raises $50M for Space-Based Solar Power Demo

Aetherflux Secures $50 Million Series A Funding

Aetherflux, a space solar startup established by Baiju Bhatt – co-founder of Robinhood and a billionaire – has successfully raised $50 million in a Series A funding round. This investment will facilitate the launch of their initial low Earth orbit demonstration, planned for 2026.

Company Overview and Mission

Based in San Carlos, California, Aetherflux emerged from stealth mode last October. The company’s long-term objective is to deploy a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites will be designed to capture and transmit solar energy directly to designated “ground stations” on Earth.

This ambitious concept was initially inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story, “Reason.” Bhatt is dedicated to transforming this science fiction idea into a tangible reality.

Demonstration Mission and Funding Details

Aetherflux’s immediate priority is to launch a satellite into orbit. This mission aims to validate the technology and prove the feasibility of harnessing power from space for human use. Bhatt, the founder and CEO, explained this goal to TechCrunch.

The recent funding round brings Aetherflux’s total capital raised to $60 million, following an initial $10 million investment from Bhatt himself.

Index Ventures and Interlagos spearheaded the Series A round. Notable participants included Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and NEA. Jared Leto also contributed to the funding.

Use of Funds and Technology

Bhatt shared with TechCrunch that the funds will be allocated to expanding the engineering team and investing in the technology and infrastructure required for the initial missions.

“Our team is primarily focused on building the payload that sits on top of the bus… that takes all the power that the satellite bus generates and turns it into laser power,” Bhatt stated.

Aetherflux is utilizing the Aries satellite bus provided by Apex Space. A satellite bus serves as the foundational structure and system of a satellite, providing essential functions like power, propulsion, and communication.

These buses typically generate power through solar panels. Bhatt confirmed that this power – up to a kilowatt of energy – will be transmitted back to Earth via lasers.

Ground Stations and Future Plans

On Earth, Aetherflux’s “ground stations” will consist of photovoltaic arrays. These arrays will convert sunlight into energy, which will then be stored in batteries for later utilization.

The team, comprised of experts from NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, and the U.S. Navy, is currently developing Aetherflux’s first ground station. While a specific location hasn’t been finalized, they are evaluating military sites with controlled airspace.

Looking ahead, Bhatt envisions the development of small, portable ground stations – ranging from 5 to 10 meters in diameter – to deliver electricity to remote areas.

“The thing we want to demonstrate [with the first mission] is the end-to-end power linking,” Bhatt emphasized. “We want to be able to demonstrate that we actually have electricity on the ground and use that to light up a light installation or do some electronic stuff on the ground.”

Previous Achievements and Department of Defense Support

The successful transmission of solar power from space to Earth remains a challenging feat. In 2023, researchers at Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project achieved wireless power transfer from low Earth orbit using microwave beaming. However, this demonstration differs from Aetherflux’s vision of a scalable, commercial system.

Aetherflux’s funding was also bolstered by an award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund. This award supports the development of space solar power solutions for the U.S. military.

• Key Investors: Index Ventures, Interlagos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Jared Leto
• Technology: Laser power transmission from space-based solar panels
• Future Goal: Deploying a constellation of satellites for global energy distribution