QAZAQ GREEN.  Star Catcher Industries has set a new record in wireless optical power transmission, advancing its plan to build the first orbital power grid. The company conducted a series of tests at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where its multi-wavelength laser system delivered more than 1.1 kW of electrical power to standard commercial solar panels. This exceeds the previous record of 800 watts set by DARPA in May 2025. Over the course of the campaign, Star Catcher transmitted more than 10 megajoules of energy.

The tests were carried out as part of preparations for the Star Catcher Network, an orbital system designed to provide scalable, on-demand power to satellites. According to the company, six Power Purchase Agreements have already been signed, representing tens of millions of dollars in projected annual revenue through the end of the decade. The agreements cover customers in orbital data infrastructure, remote sensing, and satellite platforms.

CEO and Co-Founder Andrew Rush said the results demonstrate both market confidence and technological maturity, positioning the company to build a resilient orbital power grid. The company argues that limited onboard power remains a key constraint for satellites, particularly for missions requiring high data throughput, AI-enabled sensing, or advanced maneuverability. Its system collects and concentrates sunlight in orbit, converts it into optimized wavelengths, and transmits it to client spacecraft, potentially increasing available power by a factor of two to ten.

In the demonstration campaign, the company delivered one to ten Suns of optical energy to multiple single- and triple-junction solar panels commonly used in space, confirming compatibility with existing hardware. Tests also included an Astro Digital triple-junction panel used on the company’s flight-proven satellite buses.

Star Catcher powered several customer payloads representing emerging space sectors, including space data centers, in-orbit manufacturing, and remote sensing. These systems operated on beamed power during live experiments.

A separate demonstration involved Intuitive Machines’ Lunar Terrain Vehicle, whose batteries were wirelessly recharged. Star Catcher says such capabilities could support continuous LTV operations during the lunar night or in permanently shadowed regions.

The first on-orbit demonstration of the power beaming system is planned for 2026.