Space solar startup Aetherflux raises $50M to launch first space demo in 2026

Aetherflux, the SACE SALAR, which was founded by Baiju Bhatt, co -founder of the billionaire for Robinhood, raised $ 50 million in a tour of the series A, working to launch the first low -Earth orbit in 2026.

San Carlos, in California, which came out of Stealth last October, aims to launch a group of low -oriented satellites that can collect solar energy and transport it directly to the “terrestrial stations” on Earth. It is an idea that initially created the short story of Isaac Asimov for the 1941 “Mind”. Baht focuses on converting this concept inspired by science fiction into a reality.

But first, Aetherflux needs to get a satellite to the orbit to prove technology, to demonstrate that we have made this transformational progress in the transition from people who do not have power from space to, for the first time, there is a power of space for humans, “said Bhatt, founder of Startup and CEO, for Techcrunch.

At least, this is the goal of the launch of next year, which will be supported by Capital Aetherflux Fresh. The tour brings a total of Aetherflux financing to $ 60 million after Bhatt has invested $ 10 million of its company’s own money. The series A series was led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with the participation of Bill Gates BehindTherough Energy Ventures, Andressen Horowitz, and NEA, as well as some other interesting names such as Jard Leto that links it.

Bhatt, who joined us at Techcrunch Equity, has been told by Teccrunch that Aetherflux will use money to employ more engineers and investment in technology and infrastructure for its first many tasks.

“Our team focuses primarily on building the load that is located above the bus … which takes all the power created by the satellite bus and turns it into the Laser power,” he said.

Aetherflux uses Apex Space’s Aries Satellite bus. The satellite bus is the basic structure and the satellite system that provides basic functions for its operation, such as energy, payment and communications. Most buses are generated by solar panels, and Bhatt says that the power – as much as the amounts of energy – will be sent to the ground via the laser.

At the arrival end, the “terrestrial stations” of Aetherflux will be, consisting of photovoltaic prescriptions that convert sunlight into the energy stored in batteries for later use. Bhatt said that his team, which consists of NASA engineers and researchers, Spesx, Lockheed Martin, Andoril, and the American Navy, also works to build the first terrestrial station from Aetherflux. Upon starting the station, there is no site for the station so far, but it evaluates military sites where there are more controlled air spaces.

In the future, Baht says that the goal is to build small portable ground plants – anywhere from 5 to 10 meters – to bring electricity even more remote sites.

“The thing we want to show [with the first mission] “We want to be able to prove that we already have electricity on the ground and use it to light the installation of light or do some electronic things on the ground,” said Bhatt.

Few accomplished the completion of sending solar energy from space to Earth. It was one of the only successful tasks in 2023 when researchers on the solar energy project in Caltech showed the transfer of wireless energy from the low Earth orbit using a microwave. This concept has proven but at least the Aetherflux stadium for a developmentable commercial system.

Aetherflux’s lifting comes from the back of the prize from the Ministry of Defense’s operational improvement box to develop the American army’s satellite energy.