Aetherflux Secures Major Funding
Aetherflux, the innovative space solar venture established by billionaire Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, has successfully secured $50 million in a Series A funding round. This significant investment is earmarked for the company’s ambitious plans to launch its first demonstration satellite into low Earth orbit by 2026.
Based in San Carlos, California, Aetherflux emerged from stealth mode last October with a vision to deploy a network of satellites capable of harnessing and transmitting solar energy directly to designated ground stations on Earth. The inspiration for this forward-thinking project traces back to Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story, “Reason.” Bhatt is dedicated to transforming this visionary idea into a working reality.
Next Steps for Aetherflux
To validate its technology, Aetherflux must first successfully place a satellite into orbit. This initial launch is pivotal in showcasing the company’s progress in making space-derived energy accessible to humans for the first time. Bhatt emphasizes the importance of this mission, stating that it represents a transformative leap in energy generation.
The recent funding round brings Aetherflux’s total capital to $60 million, following Bhatt’s own investment of $10 million. The Series A round was notably led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with participation from prominent entities such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and even a few intriguing contributors like Jared Leto.
Investing in Technology and Infrastructure
Bhat has indicated that the funds will primarily be allocated toward staffing additional engineers and enhancing the technology and infrastructure for upcoming missions. The current focus of the team is on developing the payload designed to convert the power generated by the satellite bus into laser energy for transmission.
Aetherflux has partnered with Apex Space to utilize its Aries satellite bus— a critical component providing essential functionalities, including power generation through solar panels. Bhatt notes that this bus can produce as much as a kilowatt of power, which will be transmitted back to Earth via laser technology.
Ground Stations and Future Goals
On the ground, Aetherflux plans to establish ground stations equipped with photovoltaic arrays that capture sunlight, converting it into stored battery energy. Although the startup has yet to finalize a site for the first station, it is exploring various military locations that feature controlled airspace.
Looking ahead, Bhatt envisions creating small, portable ground stations ranging from 5 to 10 meters in diameter, capable of providing electricity to even the most isolated regions. With the first mission, he aims to demonstrate the complete power linking capability, showcasing tangible electricity generation through this groundbreaking technology.
A Glimpse at the Future of Solar Power
While few have succeeded in transmitting solar power from space to Earth, notable efforts, such as the Caltech Space Solar Power Project’s 2023 demonstration using microwave beaming, have made progress. However, these efforts haven’t yet reached the scalable commercial viability that Aetherflux is striving for.
Aetherflux’s recent fundraising is further augmented by an award from the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, aimed at advancing space solar power technology for military applications.
