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Aetherflux , the space solar startup founded by Baiju Bhatt , the billionaire co - founding father of Robinhood , has raised $ 50 million in a Series A troll as it works to plunge its first low Earth orbit demonstration in 2026 .
The San Carlos , California - based startup , which cameout of stealth last October , aim to eventually launch a constellation of low Earth cranial orbit orbiter that can gather and transmit solar energy straightaway to “ ground stations ” on Earth . It ’s an thought that was ab initio triggered by Isaac Asimov ’s 1941 short story “ Reason . ” Bhatt is focalize on turning this science fabrication - inspired construct into reality .
But first , Aetherflux needs to get a satellite to orbit to prove out the tech , to “ shew that we have made this transformative advance of going from humans not having power from blank space to , for the very first time , there being power from space for world , ” Bhatt , the inauguration ’s founder and CEO , tell TechCrunch .
At least , that ’s the destination with next year ’s launch , which will be supported by the sweet capital Aetherflux has raised . The round bring Aetherflux ’s total funding to $ 60 million after Bhatt put $ 10 million of his own cash in hand into the fellowship . The Series A round of drinks was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos , with engagement from Bill Gates ’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures , Andreessen Horowitz , and NEA , as well as some other interesting names like Jared Leto round off it out .
Bhatt , who joined us on theTechCrunch Equity podcastearlier this twelvemonth , told TechCrunch that Aetherflux will use the funds to engage more engineers and invest in the technology and infrastructure needed for its first several missions .
“ Our team is primarily focalise the right way now on building the payload that posture on top of the bus … that takes all the mightiness that the artificial satellite bus generates and turns it into laser king , ” Bhatt said .
Aetherflux is usingApex Space ’s Aries satellite bus . A artificial satellite bus is the inwardness structure and system of a orbiter that provide substantive functions for its operation , like power , propulsion , and communications . Most buses generate power through solar panels , and Bhatt says that ability — as much as a kilowatt of vigour — will be sent back to Earth via optical maser .
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On the receiving end will be Aetherflux ’s “ ground stations , ” made up of photovoltaic array that change sun to energy that is stash away in battery for ulterior use . Bhatt tell his team , which is made up of engineer and research worker from NASA , SpaceX , Lockheed Martin , Anduril , and the U.S. Navy , is also working on building out Aetherflux ’s first ground place . The inauguration does n’t have a location for the station yet , but it ’s evaluating military sites where there ’s more controlled air space .
In the future , Bhatt say the goal is to build small , portable earth stations — anywhere from 5 to 10 meter in diam — to bring electrical energy to even the most remote locations .
“ The thing we need to demonstrate [ with the first mission ] is the end - to - end power linking , ” Bhatt said . “ We want to be capable to establish that we actually have electricity on the ground and use that to light up a sluttish installation or do some electronic stuff on the earth . ”
Few have accomplished the feat of sending solar power from space to Earth . One of the only successful missions was in 2023 when researcher atCaltech ’s Space Solar Power Projectdemonstrated wireless power transferral from low-pitched Earth celestial orbit using microwave oven beaming . That prove the concept but falls short of Aetherflux ’s slant for a scalable , commercial system .
Aetherflux ’s upgrade comes off the back ofan awardfrom the Department of Defense ’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund to develop place solar power for the U.S. military .
