The Aetherflux satellite constellation is a concept by the
California-based startup owned by Baiju Bhatt that has a unique dream to
harvest solar power from space. This concept is now preparing to go into
development as the firm has successfully secured a Series A round funding
amounting to $50 million. Harvesting Solar Power From Space:...
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Meet Aetherflux appeared first on Orbital Today.
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#^Jared Leto Just Funded A Plan To Beam Solar Power From Space — Meet AetherfluxThe Aetherflux satellite constellation is a concept by the California-based startup owned by Baiju Bhatt that has a unique dream to harvest solar power from space. This concept is now preparing to go into
development as the firm has successfully secured a Series A round funding amounting to $50 million.
Harvesting Solar Power From Space: The Goal Of The Coming Aetherflux Satellite Constellation
Aetherflux is a California-based startup that launched in October 2024 with a vision that might sound impractical to some people. The firm is owned by billionaire Baiju Bhatt, who is also the co-founder of Robinhood, the e-trading platform.
Regarding the vision of this rather new startup, the firm aims to harvest solar power from space and transmit it to Earth for real-time usage. To achieve this dream, the startup is preparing to launch a
constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will work in sync with ground stations for this harvest.
The first funding for Aetherflux’s dream came from none other than its owner, Baiju Bhatt. Total funding from Bhatt’s funds to help drive the development of this startup’s satellite technology is $10 million.
New reports now show that the firm has received $50 million from a Series A round of funding, bringing the total investment to $60 million. Leading this funding round are Index Ventures and Interlagos, also, Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and NEA also invested.
Jared Leto’s Investment
Jared Leto also pumped some funds into this startup, completing a total of $50 million. With this funding in place, Aetherflux will be able to demonstrate that its technology concept works as it prepares for its first mission by 2026.
The performance of the
satellite constellation in low Earth orbit might attract more investors or send the firm back to the drawing boards to refine its technology. But how exactly will this satellite constellation work on bringing solar energy from space to Earth?
How Will The Aetherflux Satellite Constellation Work?
The concept of this solar harvesting
satellite constellation will also include some portable ground stations. According to the startup, the solar energy that its satellites will capture in space will make its way to the portable ground station via laser.
These satellites will make use of the ApexSpace Aries satellite bus that relies on solar energy to power its system. The panels on this bus will help gather solar energy to prepare it for transmission to Earth, where it will be used.
Bhatt says that this constellation will bring solar power from space to Earth for the first time in human history. But in the meantime, the startup will have to demonstrate the end-to-end power linking with its first mission by next year.
According to Bhatt, his firm wants “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.” While this sounds like a script from a
sci-fi movie we look forward to seeing it in actual operation by 2026.
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Jared Leto Just Funded A Plan To Beam Solar Power From Space — Meet Aetherflux appeared first on
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