The vision of transmitting solar power from space to Earth has taken a concrete step forward. Star Catcher Industries, a US-based space solar firm, has announced it has broken the world record for wireless power beaming, surpassing a milestone previously held by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

In a test conducted at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the company's technology successfully transmitted 1.1 kilowatts of power over a distance using a highly concentrated beam of light. This exceeds the 800-watt record DARPA set just a few months prior, in June 2025.

How the Technology Works

The concept, first proposed in the 1960s, involves using satellites to collect uninterrupted solar energy in space and beam it down to Earth. Unlike ground-based solar farms, space-based systems can operate 24 hours a day,不受 weather conditions影响.

Star Catcher's approach uses a system called the Star Catcher Network. It collects sunlight and converts it into an optical multi-spectrum laser, which is then wirelessly transmitted to standard solar panels. This allows the receiving panels to generate significantly more power without any physical connection.

A Stepping Stone to a Space-Based Power Grid

The company's immediate goal is not to beam power to Earth, but to first create an "orbital power grid." This network could:

1. Supercharge other satellites, providing them with on-demand power and extending their operational life.
2. Power orbital data centers and manufacturing facilities in space.

The recent ground test, which used commercially available solar panels, validates the core technology. Star Catcher has announced plans for an orbital demonstration as early as next year.

According to Star Catcher, the results offer "definitive proof of the soundness and maturity of our approach to building a resilient orbital power grid." This achievement marks a significant milestone in the long-standing effort to make space-based solar power a practical reality.