Space solar power initiative

What is the space-based solar power project (SSPP)?

Through the Space-based Solar Power Project (SSPP), a team of Caltech researchers is working to deploy a constellation of modular spacecraft that collect sunlight, transform it into electricity, then wirelessly transmit that electricity wherever it is needed—including to places that currently have no access to reliable power.

Who financed a space-based solar power project?

The Northrop Grumman Corporation provided funding for initial feasibility studies. Atwater, Hajimiri, and Pellegrino discussed their progress—and the transformational potential of space-based solar power—as the project nears a significant milestone: a test launch of prototypes into space in December 2022.

Could space solar power help humanity transition away from fossil fuels?

Space solar power, renewable energy transmitted 24 hours a day to anywhere on Earth, could help humanity transition away from fossil fuels and live more sustainably.

What is space-based solar power?

The idea of space-based solar power dates back to as early as 1923 when Russian theorist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky proposed using mirrors in space to concentrate a strong beam of sunlight down to Earth.

Will sspd-1 help chart the future of space solar power?

Now, with SSPD-1's mission in space concluded, engineers on Earth are celebrating the testbed's successes and learning important lessons that will help chart the future of space solar power. "Solar power beamed from space at commercial rates, lighting the globe, is still a future prospect.

How can solar energy be used in space?

Glaser’s ambitious plan called for massive satellites equipped with solar-panel arrays capable of harvesting sunlight in space, converting the sunlight into energy, and then beaming that energy wirelessly toward 5-mile-wide receiving antennae on Earth. “It is an incredibly complex piece of infrastructure.