Strategic Partnership Could Advance First Space Energy Grid
Space Florida Will Work With Star Catcher on the Project
A strategic partnership has been formed between Space Florida and Star Catcher to advance what would be the world's first space energy grid. As part of this partnership, Star Catcher will conduct a large-scale demonstration later this summer of its groundbreaking power beaming technology at Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), a historic site integral to advancing space technology innovation.
"This is a critical step in demonstrating the scalability of our vision for a space energy grid that will revolutionize how we power spacecraft."
Andrew Rush, Star Catcher
This first-of-its-kind demonstration will serve as a critical proof point for the technology, accelerating the development of an operational space power grid and driving adoption among satellite operators.
Star Catcher is building the first space energy grid – the Star Catcher Network – designed to eliminate power constraints for spacecraft. Once constructed, the Star Catcher Network will beam significant levels of broad spectrum energy to spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. The network will deliver on-demand energy to existing solar arrays on client spacecraft at higher concentrations than the Sun, enabling them to generate five to ten times more power without retrofit.
Space Florida's LLF, which was used for Space Shuttle landings until 2011, boasts one of the longest runways in the world. Leveraging the LLF's 5 kilometers of unobstructed line-of-sight distance, the demonstration will showcase Star Catcher's ability to beam energy hundreds of Watts to multiple simulated satellites simultaneously over a distance of more than one kilometer.
"Partnering with Space Florida allows us to accelerate the development and validation of our power beaming technology in an environment familiar to pioneering new technologies for space," said Andrew Rush, Co-Founder, president, and CEO of Star Catcher. "This is a critical step in demonstrating the scalability of our vision for a space energy grid that will revolutionize how we power spacecraft."
The partnership also includes an investment in Star Catcher by Space Florida, underscoring the State of Florida's commitment to fostering innovation and driving the growth of Florida's space economy.
"This partnership reflects Space Florida's mission to support pioneering technologies and invest in the infrastructure required to ensure our state remains at the forefront of the global space industry," said Rob Long, president and CEO, Space Florida. "The Launch and Landing Facility is an ideal location for Star Catcher's groundbreaking work, and we are thrilled to support the advancement of power beaming technology."
This announcement builds on Star Catcher's recent success, including closing a $12.25M seed funding round in July 2024. The funding, co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital with substantial participation from Rogue VC, has allowed the company to accelerate its vision and expand development efforts, setting the stage for the creation of a space energy grid that will transform the industry by eliminating power generation constraints.
