Aetherflux, a startup focused on solar energy from space, has successfully secured $50 million in its Series A funding round. Founded by Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, the company is based in San Carlos, California, and plans to launch its first demonstration satellite in low Earth orbit by 2026. This venture aims to create a network of satellites that will collect solar energy and transmit it directly to ground stations on Earth.
Company Vision and Launch Plans
The concept behind Aetherflux was inspired by Isaac Asimov’s short story “Reason,” written in 1941. Achieving the goal of solar power transmission from space involves proving the technology through an initial satellite launch. Bhatt has stated that this mission is crucial to demonstrate the historic first step of accessing power generated in space for human use.
Funding and Investment Strategy
The recent funding round elevates Aetherflux’s total financing to $60 million, which includes an initial $10 million investment from Bhatt himself. The Series A round was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with contributions from prominent investors such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and even celebrity investor Jared Leto. Bhatt indicated that these funds will be utilized to expand the engineering team and enhance the technology and infrastructure necessary for upcoming missions.
Technology and Development Process
Aetherflux plans to employ Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus, which serves as the primary structural framework for satellites, managing essential operations like power generation and communications. Bhatt highlighted that the satellite is expected to generate up to one kilowatt of energy, which will be transmitted back to Earth using laser technology.
Ground Infrastructure and Future Goals
On the ground, Aetherflux will establish stations equipped with photovoltaic arrays to convert the received solar energy into a storable form. The team, composed of specialists from NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and the U.S. Navy, is currently identifying potential locations for these ground stations, with a preference for military sites that offer regulated airspace. Bhatt envisions the eventual creation of small, portable ground stations, aimed at providing electricity to remote areas.
Demonstrating Technology and Market Potential
The primary objective of the inaugural satellite mission is to successfully demonstrate the complete process of power transmission from space to ground. Bhatt outlined the intent to showcase the practical application of this technology by powering light installations and conducting electric operations on the surface. Previous attempts at similar technologies have been limited, with notable success achieved by Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project in 2023, which showed the feasibility of wireless energy transfer from orbit using microwave transmission.
Aetherflux’s funding boost follows an award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, which supports the development of space-based solar power for military applications.