Startup Tests Laser-Based Power Transmission Between Orbiting Spacecraft

A Florida-based company is launching a prototype system to transmit solar energy between satellites using concentrated laser beams, addressing the power constraints facing orbital data centers and manufacturing facilities. The technology converts sunlight into specially tuned laser light that can be received by standard satellite solar panels, potentially increasing power generation efficiency tenfold compared to direct sunlight. Successful demonstration could extend the operational lifespan of aging satellites and reduce the mass burden of batteries and panels on new spacecraft.

Star Catcher's innovation addresses a fundamental constraint in orbital infrastructure: spacecraft can only carry limited power generation and storage equipment due to weight restrictions. By converting solar energy into specially calibrated laser beams tuned to wavelengths that existing satellite solar panels already recognize, the system eliminates the need for hardware modifications. This approach potentially reduces the physical footprint devoted to power systems, creating room for additional operational equipment on new satellites while simultaneously extending the functional lifetime of aging spacecraft whose original panels and batteries have degraded.

The company has already demonstrated key technical components independently. In 2025, ground-based tests successfully transmitted 1.1 kilowatts to solar panels at Kennedy Space Center, while space-based tests validated the satellite tracking software required for precise targeting. Today's launch represents the critical next step: operating the complete system in the orbital environment where solar collection, target acquisition, tracking, and power transmission must function as an integrated whole.