Star Catcher Prepares Orbital Power Beaming Demonstration for Launch
Star Catcher Industries is preparing to launch its Protostar power node prototype aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 mission in October 2026. The mission aims to demonstrate orbital optical power beaming between two untethered spacecraft, a first-of-its-kind achievement that could form the foundation of an orbital energy grid for future space operations. Since its founding in 2024, Star Catcher has made rapid progress, including setting a world record for terrestrial optical power beaming and completing on-orbit software demonstrations. Protostar will serve as the first full prototype of the company's technology stack—energy harvesting, tracking, and transmission—and is expected to provide critical data for future commercial deployment. The company already has ten Power Purchase Agreements with major space firms and over $148 million in funding from both private investors and government sources. Star Catcher plans further satellite development and expansion of its workforce as it moves toward building a full orbital power grid.
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Topics: power transmission prototype launch satellite technology space energy