Ariel Ekblaw, PhD, is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Aurelia Institute. Her MIT PhD and continuing research in autonomously self-assembling space structures is primarily directed at the construction of human-rated space habitats. This developing technology can also help to meet the ecological and energy challenges currently facing our planet.
“We’re working to see if we can help start-up energy companies assemble thousands of solar panels in orbit, above the atmosphere.” – Dr. Ariel Ekblaw
I was excited to learn that Dr. Ekblaw has long been a supporter of space-based solar power (SBSP), which she discusses at 6:47 of the TED Talk above. The technology of autonomously self-assembling space structures is a critical component of making SBSP an economically viable clean energy source for humankind.
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Virtus Solis was founded by John Bucknell and Dr. Edward Tate. Together, the founders have deep experience in heavy launch and propulsion technologies, as well as the analysis and development of energy systems.
The Virtus Solis website makes a bold claim about the space-based solar power (SBSP) technology they have developed:
Virtus Solis is the world’s first space-based solar power energy generation system able to directly compete with conventional and renewable energy sources with none of the drawbacks.
As outlined in the video above, some notable features of the Virtus Solis SBSP technology include:
Use of commercial, reusable heavy launch provider
Massive and highly scalable arrays of satellite solar collectors
Use of the highly elliptical Molniya orbit between low-earth and geosynchronous orbital altitudes (MEO)
Found in the National Space Society’s (NSS) Space Solar Power Library, the Survey of Space Based Solar Power, Virtus Solis, 2024, written by John Bucknell, includes detailed descriptions of several proposed SBSP architectures including the Virtus Solis’ Lucidus Hyper-Modular Architecture (2023). This SBSP survey reaches the following conclusion:
As shown, most SBSP systems described herein could provide energy at a competitive price in today’s market and future markets. The Virtus Solis architecture excels, with an LCOE of $25/MWh.
I entered the following query into the Gemini Deep Research AI:
What is the current state of space-based solar power development and what entities are currently conducting research on space-based solar power development? Compile a list of the top ten entities which are likely to accomplish the development and deployment of space-based solar power on a commercial scale?
Gemini rewrote my query as:
Provide an overview of the current progress in space-based solar power (SBSP) development, identify organizations currently researching SBSP, and list the top ten entities most likely to achieve commercial-scale SBSP deployment.
Following is the report that Gemini Deep Research developed in about ten minutes after researching and analyzing data from hundreds of websites. I’ve included the Executive Summary and Conclusion and Future Outlook for SBSP in full, with headings for the remaining sections of the report.
Space-Based Solar Power: Progress, Key Players, and the Path to Commercialization
I. Executive Summary
Space-based solar power (SBSP), the concept of harvesting solar energy in space and wirelessly transmitting it to Earth, is experiencing a significant resurgence of interest driven by advancements in space technology and the pressing need for clean, reliable energy. Recent milestones, such as Caltech’s successful wireless power transmission from space and Space Solar’s demonstration of 360° power beaming, highlight the tangible progress being made. A diverse range of organizations, spanning government agencies like NASA, ESA, JAXA, and AFRL, academic institutions such as Caltech and Kyoto University, and private companies ranging from established aerospace giants like Northrop Grumman and Airbus to innovative startups like Space Solar and Aetherflux, are actively engaged in research and development efforts. While significant challenges remain, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness and large-scale deployment, the potential of SBSP to provide continuous, baseload power is attracting increasing attention and investment. This report provides an overview of the current state of SBSP development, identifies the key organizations involved, and analyzes the top ten entities most likely to achieve commercial-scale deployment in this transformative field.
II. Introduction: The Promise of Space-Based Solar Power
III. Current Landscape of SBSP Development
IV. Leading Organizations in SBSP Research and Development
V. Key Private Sector Players in the SBSP Arena
VI. Technological Advancements and Key Challenges in SBSP
VII. Evaluating the Potential for Commercial-Scale Deployment
VIII. Top Ten Entities Most Likely to Achieve Commercial-Scale SBSP Deployment
IX. Conclusion and Future Outlook for SBSP
Space-based solar power stands at an exciting juncture. The convergence of technological advancements, particularly in space launch and wireless power transmission, coupled with the ever-increasing global demand for clean energy, has propelled SBSP from a futuristic concept towards a tangible possibility. Recent demonstrations and the growing number of active players across government, academia, and the private sector underscore the significant momentum in this field.
While considerable challenges remain, particularly in achieving cost-effectiveness and deploying large-scale systems in space, the long-term potential of SBSP to provide continuous, baseload power is undeniable. The projected growth of the SBSP market indicates increasing investment and a shift towards more development-focused initiatives. The next decade will likely see significant progress in technology maturation and further in-space demonstrations, paving the way for pilot projects and, eventually, commercial-scale deployments.
The entities identified in this report, with their diverse strengths and approaches, are at the forefront of this endeavor. Their continued progress, coupled with sustained government support and further technological breakthroughs, will be crucial in realizing the promise of space-based solar power and its potential to revolutionize the global energy landscape. As the world continues to strive for a sustainable energy future, SBSP is poised to play an increasingly important role, offering a clean, reliable, and virtually limitless source of power from the ultimate energy provider – the Sun.
Ian Cash, of SICA Design Ltd, presented a new Solar Power Satellite (SPS) concept during the Space Solar Power Workshop of the IEEE WiSEE conference held in Montreal last month. Ian’s presentation is linked below. Special thanks to Elisa Shebaro of PowerSOL, who attended this conference and brought the CASSIOPeiA presentation to my attention.
The CASSIOPeiA Solar Power Satellite is “based on the principle of wavelength-scale modular integration of all major functions, from solar collection through to beam-formation.” With no moving parts, CASSIOPeiA’s patent-pending phased array permits beam steering through 360 degrees.
The ultralight helical structure maintains a constant solar collecting area directly facing the Sun. Stowed as an integrated and highly compact package, this concept offers “the enticing possibility of a fully functional SPS deployed as a single payload.” The full CASSIOPeiA white paper can be read here.
Dr. Seyed (Reza) A. Zekavat, Michigan Tech, and Darel Preble, Space Solar Power Institute, Georgia Tech, co-chair the Space Solar Power Workshop as part of the annual IEEE WiSEE Conference. Papers and presentations from recent Space Solar Power Workshops can be seen at the bottom of Dr. Zekavat’s faculty page, here.
As one of five research proposals selected for year-long studies, NASA will study the Colorado School of Mines’s proposal, “21st Century Trends in Space-Based Solar Power Generation and Storage.” Although previous NASA studies of the space-based solar power concept have not resulted in any meaningful action, perhaps this time will be different. It is at least encouraging to learn that NASA is still interested in this potentially game-changing idea.
“Our space technology work is focused on providing new capabilities for robotic and human exploration of the solar system, but we are also here to help enable new commercial markets or enterprises,” said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA. “The results of these studies provide insights into the potential economic impacts of new space-based capabilities and applications which in turn helps guide our investments in technology development.”
Jeremy Hsu’s article, NASA Wants to Know Cost of Space Solar Power, brought this September 23, 2017 NASA announcement to my attention. I left the following perhaps not-so-humble opinion in the comment section of Jeremy’s article:
IMHO: Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) will be our planet’s main source of energy at some point in the 21st century. The initial research and investments will be funded by a public-private partnership, with similarities to the transcontinental railroad and communication satellite projects.
I agree that high launch costs are one of the biggest hurdles to a successful implementation and scale-up of SBSP. Because of this, space-based mining and manufacturing technologies should precede, or at least parallel SBSP development.
Fossil fuels are a finite resource.Only the future point in time at which fossil fuels will be more costly to extract than they are worth is in question. For all practical purposes of humankind, energy from the sun is an infinite resource.
“It can’t be done!” is a self-fulfilling and self-defeating stance, especially when it is fueled by an inordinate amount of self-confidence.
All the best,
Rob Mahan
Self-appointed Advocate
Citizens for Space Based Solar Power
“Trump Should Make Space-Based Solar Power A National Priority”
by Bruce Dorminey, contributor, Forbes.com
Image Credit: NASA
In a recent Forbes.com article, science journalist and author Bruce Dorminey argues for the current administration to make development and deployment of space-based solar power a national priority. Read the full article here.
If President Trump were to champion space-based solar energy as a means of delivering unlimited, renewable electricity from Earth orbit, it’s arguable that his administration could leave the U.S. and the world at large with a revolutionary new source of energy.
In this advocate’s opinion, one of the most important points Dorminey makes is that ” … the fledgling space-based solar power initiative needs cohesive leadership to actively plot goals and transform it into a workable industry.” The majority of SBSP supporters have thus far focused on engineering challenges, essential to the technical “how is it done” question of space-based solar power. Two other questions, the financial “who pays for it” and the political “who gets the credit or takes the blame” must also be answered for a complete solution.
With most complex problems, the level of difficulty usually increases from the technical solution to the financial solution to the often intractable political solution. A current, complex problem to illustrate this three-pronged approach might be the ongoing battle over national healthcare. (Have even one of the three questions truly been answered yet?)
To jumpstart a U.S.-led space-based power agenda, at least three in-depth proposals for federal legislation have already been put forward:
SunSat Corporation Charter – proposed by the Space Solar Power Institute’s (SSPI) Space Solar Power Workshop, led by Darel Preble at Georgia Tech
D3 Space Solar Proposal – Diplomacy, Development, and Defense (D3) Innovation Summit Pitch Challenge award-winning proposal by a team of scientists led by Dr. Paul Jaffe, spacecraft engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
The Space Review online publication has published an excellent article by Mike Snead, president of the Spacefaring Institute, supporting the USA taking the lead in space-based energy. The article also encourages citizens to sign both of our petitions to send this important message to the US Congress.
Petitioning the US to take the lead in space solar power
Human civilization has been very fortunate to have access to readily available fossil fuels to enable the industrial revolution and the rise of our modern society. However, as most now understand, environmental and energy security concerns have emerged from our substantial use of fossil fuels.
Two new petitions seek to generate public support for investment in space-based solar power development. (credit: Spacefaring Institute LLC)
Our thanks to Mike Snead for his concise and compelling arguments in favor of space-based energy, and also thanks to Jeff Foust for publishing Mike’s article and helping us to get the word out to a much wider audience.
Citizens for Space Based Solar Power has published the following petition, addressed to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Please go to change.org and sign this petition to send a strong message to the President and to Congress: Take these actions now to transition our nation and the world from dependence on fossil fuels to a virtually unlimited source of clean, sustainable energy.
Your signature on this petition will have a very real and positive impact on the United States of America and on all future generations of humankind worldwide.
If you doubt this statement, please read on.
The Current Energy Problem
The United States of America faces a looming national energy security threat due to its dependence on a finite supply of fossil fuels.
Humankind worldwide faces an environmental security threat due to its dependence on fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned.
The human desire to improve our standard of living is driving both the United States of America and humankind worldwide to consume more energy per person than ever before.
Worldwide population growth, coupled with increasing energy consumption per person, is increasing the total amount of energy required to sustain humankind worldwide.
There are no terrestrial energy sources, renewable or non-renewable, that can be sustainably scaled to meet the planet’s increasing energy requirements.
The Future Energy Solution
Sustainable, carbon emission free energy from space-based solar power (SBSP) is the solution. Simply put–and challenging to accomplish–SBSP consists of orbiting solar power satellites continuously harvesting the sun’s intense energy in space. The energy is beamed wirelessly to rectifying antennas on the Earth, and then transmitted to existing electrical power grids. Unlike terrestrial renewable energy sources, space-based solar power is nearly infinitely scalable. It is also continuous, so it can supply the planet’s baseload energy requirements.
Space-based solar power is not a new idea. Peter Glaser, an American scientist, obtained U.S. Patent Number US003781647 for SBSP in 1973. Since then, the idea has been studied extensively by NASA, other government agencies, academic groups, private organizations, and individuals. Every technology required for the implementation of SBSP exists, and they are each well understood.
Implementing the Future Energy Solution
Transitioning the United States of America, and eventually, humankind worldwide, to sustainable, carbon emission free space-based energy will require a substantial, coordinated effort, sustained economic investment, and political will. Likely to span the rest of the twenty-first century, commitment to this effort must supersede the short-term nature of two- and four-year election cycles.
*** A CALL TO ACTION ***
Sign this petition and send the following urgent message to the United States Congress, to the President of the United States, and to future congresses and administrations:
Pass and support legislation to ensure national energy security and to protect the worldwide environment by establishing congressionally chartered public-private corporations for space-based energy, space mining, and spacefaring logistics. These corporations shall provide the United States, its allies, and trading partners with sustainable and carbon emission free space-based energy.
******
Challenges to Implementing the Future Energy Solution
The United States of America has a proven track record of success with large and difficult challenges, like building a transcontinental railroad, building a national highway system, and creating an extremely successful communications satellite industry.
In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The following year, the U.S. Congress passed the Space Act and created NASA. In 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to claim a leadership role in space and land a man on the moon within the decade. In July of 1969, the Apollo 11 spaceflight landed Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon. The Apollo Program went on to send ten more astronauts to walk on the Moon.
Today Japan, China, and India all have active space-based energy development programs.
The main challenges to implementing a successful space-based energy industry can be categorized in three areas.
Technical Challenges
Several viable space-based energy concepts have been proposed. The concept for implementation must be downselected through scientific experimentation and prototype testing.
The safety of space-based energy, with respect to people, animals, and the environment, must be demonstrated through scientific experimentation and prototype testing.
Launch costs to place the required mass of solar power satellites into orbit must be reduced to improve the business case for space-based energy.
Advances in commercial launch capabilities, material sciences, robotic assembly methods, and other related technologies must continue to improve the business case for space-based energy.
Economic Challenges
The economic effort to implement space-based energy will be substantial, likely requiring a small but significant fraction of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be invested. Initially, a return on that investment will come in the form of new industry and job creation, and spinoff technologies.
Sustained investment will likely be required for the remainder of this century.
Political Challenges
The commitment to implement space-based energy will likely span the rest of this century. This long-term commitment must supersede the short-term nature of two- and four-year election cycles.
A decision must be made as to whether the United States of America will solely take on the challenge of implementing space-based energy, or whether the United States of America will lead a coalition of our allies and trading partners in this effort.
Public opinion must be rallied to support the technology of space-based energy, and the economic and political commitments required for its successful implementation.
Resources for Learning More About Space-Based Energy
This is only a small portion of the available space-based energy resources, presented in no particular order. Additional Google and YouTube searches are highly recommended.
D3 Space Solar Proposal – 2016 multi-agency proposal for the U.S. to begin a space-based solar power program
Spacefaring Institute – Dedicated to transforming America into a true, commercial spacefaring nation
Space Solar Power Institute – A non-profit corporation organized to educate the public about space solar power
The Case for Space Solar Power – 2014 book by John C. Mankins that recounts the history of space-based solar power and lays out a path forward for its implementation
Citizens for Space Based Solar Power – A space-based solar power advocacy blog, with the goal of educating fellow citizens and influencing public opinion in favor of this game-changing technology
*** ONCE AGAIN, A CALL TO ACTION ***
Sign this petition and send the following urgent message to the United States Congress, to the President of the United States, and to future congresses and administrations:
Pass and support legislation to ensure national energy security and to protect the worldwide environment by establishing congressionally chartered public-private corporations for space-based energy, space mining, and spacefaring logistics. These corporations shall provide the United States, its allies, and trading partners with sustainable and carbon emission free space-based energy.
… solar satellites provide Earth with unlimited, clean power …
I literally fell off the couch when I heard these words coming from my television yesterday. I replayed this Boeing TV spot several times, with goosebumps on my arms. For the first time, I was hearing the game-changing idea of space-based solar power on national television, as a future reality.
The Boeing Company is celebrating their first 100 years in July of 2016. Congratulations on their upcoming anniversary, and on their innovative outlook for the next 100 years that includes space based solar power!
Citizens for Space Based Solar Power 