Aetherflux, an innovative U.S.-based startup, has raised $50 million to develop a space-based solar power system. The company plans to use satellites to capture solar energy in space and transmit it back to Earth via laser beams, providing an advanced solution to energy needs.

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• Aetherflux has raised $50 million in Series A funding, led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, announced on April 2.
• The startup aims to demonstrate its space-based solar technology by 2026, using satellites to collect solar energy and send it back to Earth.
• The concept involves a satellite network in space that will collect solar energy and convert it to electricity via laser or microwave beams.
• The energy transmitted to Earth will be captured by ground-based antennas and converted into usable electricity.
• Aetherflux’s approach could eliminate the environmental hazards of traditional solar panels while ensuring an abundant energy supply.
• Space-based solar power has been a concept since 1941, but Aetherflux’s system will bring it closer to reality.
• Satellites will be placed in low Earth orbit (around 35,000 km), ensuring continuous sunlight without interference from clouds or atmospheric conditions.
• The laser model is expected to be cheaper and easier to implement compared to the microwave model, but it comes with security concerns related to laser use.
• The company plans to send a test satellite by early 2026 to showcase the technology’s feasibility.
• Founder Baiju Bhatt, an Indian-American entrepreneur, aims to revolutionize energy by leveraging his father’s background as a NASA scientist.