Deep Tech Briefing #23: 🛰️ Orbital Energy Grid; ⚡Next-Gen Power Cables; 🚜 Autonomous Tractors; 📦 Supply Chain Startup Unicorn; 🚁 Rising Electric Air Taxis in the UAE
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In today’s edition
Major Investment Fuels Orbital Energy Grid Development
Advanced cables promise a major upgrade to the power grid
Autonomous electric tractors revolutionize agricultural efficiency
Supply chain startup reaches unicorn status with AI solutions
Electric air taxis make strides with UAE-based partnership
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🔸Orbital Energy Grid: Bridging the Power Supply-Demand Gap in Space
As the space industry evolves, the disparity between the growing energy demands of sophisticated space operations and the current limited power generation capabilities becomes increasingly evident. This gap poses a significant hurdle to expanding satellite functionalities and extending mission durations within the competitive and rapidly advancing realm of Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
To confront this challenge, Star Catcher has embarked on an ambitious journey with the recent closure of a $12.25M seed funding round. The company aims to disrupt traditional power supply systems in space with its innovative Star Catcher Network—the first space-based energy grid. This grid promises to deliver high concentrations of broad spectrum energy directly to satellites, dramatically increasing their power generation capacity without the need for physical modifications.
The technology hinges on a series of "power node" satellites that collect solar energy and transmit it efficiently to client satellites. This system enables a dramatic enhancement in power availability—sending 100 Watts to 100 kilowatts of power at flux concentrations of 0.1 Suns to 10 Suns —thereby eliminating the existing energy bottlenecks and enabling more ambitious missions in space.
The network's satellites are designed to operate at approximately 1,500 km above Earth, where they can serve multiple satellites simultaneously. Utilizing advanced tracking technology that does not require client satellites to have transceivers or beacons, the system simplifies the process of connecting to client satellites. Energy is transmitted using a spectrum compatible with advanced triple-junction solar cells, ensuring that non-essential energy forms that could increase heat load are not transmitted.
Moreover, Star Catcher's strategic innovation lies not just in technology but also in its business model, offering power on a pay-as-you-go basis, which could potentially halve the costs associated with energy consumption in space. This model allows satellite operators to expand their capabilities and extend their operational life without the hefty initial capital outlay typically associated with space missions.
"Being able to buy power for your spacecraft whenever and wherever you need it in LEO will expand opportunity and accelerate humanity realizing the potential of the second golden age of space," said Andrew Rush, Star Catcher's co-founder, president and CEO.
With the demand for power-intensive applications such as telecommunications, remote sensing, and national security operations in space on the rise, the need for a robust energy supply becomes even more critical. According with the startup, by 2030, it is expected that over 50,000 satellites will occupy LEO, requiring approximately 840 megawatts of power—a significant increase from the tens of megawatts currently generated in orbit.
The challenges of establishing a reliable and efficient space-based power grid are considerable, involving the need to maintain consistent power delivery across complex orbital dynamics. Star Catcher's long-term goal involves deploying a constellation of 200 satellites to ensure comprehensive coverage across low Earth orbit as Rush said to TechCrunch.
Looking ahead, Star Catcher has outlined plans for an in-orbit demonstration targeted for late 2025. This demonstration will be crucial in validating the power nodes’ functionality and their integration with client satellites. If successful, this technology could significantly extend the operational life of satellites and enhance their capabilities, thereby optimizing the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the satellite industry at a pivotal moment in its expansion.
🔸Revolutionizing Power Transmission: Advanced Cables for a More Efficient Power Grid
“The American power grid has 600,000 miles of transmission lines, according to Bank of America. That’s enough to wrap around the earth 24 times!
But with outdated conductor technology dominating most grids, it’s not enough to meet growing demand from AI, electric vehicles, and widespread electrification.” stated TS Conductor in a LinkedIn post.
The energy sector is under immense pressure to modernize its infrastructure