Space solar startup Aetherflux, founded by billionaire and Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has raised $50 million in a Series A round. The company plans to use the funds to launch its first low Earth orbit demonstration in 2026. This brings total funding to $60 million, including $10 million from Bhatt’s own investment.
Turning Sci-Fi Into Reality
The idea of transmitting solar energy directly from space to Earth is inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story “Reason.” Bhatt is determined to turn this science fiction concept into reality, starting with launching a satellite and proving that orbital power transmission is possible.
Building the Technology: Satellite and Ground Station
Aetherflux’s first demo satellite will use Apex Space’s Aries satellite bus. The core objective is to convert harvested solar energy into laser light that will be transmitted to Earth. On the ground, receiving stations with photovoltaic panels will convert the laser back into electricity.
Military Potential and Scalable Vision
The company is still looking for a location for its first ground station — likely a military site with controlled airspace. In the future, Aetherflux aims to deploy portable stations measuring 5–10 meters in diameter to bring electricity to remote locations.
Aiming for a World-First in Wireless Space Power
The main goal of the first mission is to demonstrate end-to-end power transfer, potentially lighting up an installation or powering electronics on the ground. Very few have managed to beam solar energy from space — one rare example being Caltech’s 2023 microwave-based demo. But Aetherflux is aiming for a scalable, commercially viable solution.
