Aetherflux Secures $50 Million for Space Solar Energy Development
Aetherflux, a pioneering space solar startup led by Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, has successfully raised $50 million in a Series A funding round. This significant investment aims to propel the company towards launching its inaugural satellite demonstration in low Earth orbit (LEO) by the year 2026.
Innovative Solar Energy Collection Concept
Established in San Carlos, California, Aetherflux emerged from stealth mode last October with a bold vision: deploying a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit to gather and transmit solar energy directly to ground stations on Earth. Inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story “Reason,” Bhatt is dedicated to transforming this science fiction narrative into scientific reality.
Upcoming Launch and Funding Utilization
Before realizing its ambitious goals, Aetherflux must first demonstrate the efficacy of its technology by launching a satellite into orbit. “We want to demonstrate that we have made this transformative progress of going from humans not having power from space to, for the very first time, there being power from space for humans,” explained Bhatt in a conversation with TechCrunch. This launch is supported by the latest round of funding, which raises Aetherflux’s total capital to $60 million, drawing from both external investors and Bhatt’s own $10 million investment.
The Series A funding round was spearheaded by Index Ventures and Interlagos, attracting additional participation from notable investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz, along with actor Jared Leto among others.
Strategic Technological Development
According to Bhatt, the new capital will primarily facilitate the recruitment of engineers and the advancement of technology and infrastructure necessary for Aetherflux’s initial missions. “Our team is primarily focused right now 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,” he noted.
Utilizing the Aries Satellite Bus
Aetherflux will utilize Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus, which forms the backbone of satellite operations by providing fundamental functionalities like power generation, propulsion, and communications. Bhatt stated that the satellite will generate an impressive kilowatt of energy, which will then be transmitted to Earth using laser technology.
Ground Stations for Energy Conversion
On the receiving end, Aetherflux plans to establish ground stations equipped with photovoltaic arrays to convert solar energy into electricity stored in batteries for later use. Although specific locations for these ground stations have yet to be confirmed, the startup is considering military sites that present a controlled airspace environment for operations.
Future Aspirations and Mission Goals
As part of its long-term vision, Aetherflux aims to create compact, portable ground stations measuring between 5 to 10 meters in diameter, capable of providing electricity to remote locales. Bhatt outlined the mission’s core objective: “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.”
Significance of Space-Based Solar Power
While few have successfully transmitted solar energy from space to Earth, notable achievements include a mission by Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project in 2023, which demonstrated the capability of wireless power transfer from low Earth orbit using microwave technology. However, Aetherflux’s vision extends beyond this, aiming to establish a scalable and commercial solar energy solution.
Governmental Support and Future Endeavors
Moreover, Aetherflux’s recent funding efforts follow an award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, aimed at innovating space solar power technologies for military applications.
