Our Mission: To create the landscape and conditions for commercial Space-Based Solar Power technology by the U.S. to become successful and self-sustaining. | |
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Space Frontier Foundation Updates
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SFF advocate David Steitz has recently published an article in Space News urging for a "national will" to lead the modern space race to meet energy demands.
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Space Frontier Foundation: Year in Review
- Presented on “Harmonizing U.S. Efforts to Commercialize Space-Based Solar Power” at the International Conference for Energy from Space, in London 2024
- Collaborated with the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) to host a SBSP workshop at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness D.C., 2024. Professionals from diverse backgrounds were brought together with the objective of increasing the inclusion of space-based power as an energy option in strategic planning for their organizations.
- Hosted a successful congressional briefing about SBSP on the Hill on September 30, with 50+ staffers in attendance, representing the Arms committee, Energy, Commerce & Science committees.
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Our article on SBSP, featured in the POWER energy magazine, showcases its potential to address energy needs across industries with pent up demand, like data centers, humanitarian aid, and national security.
- Produced and delivered a transition document for the incoming President and his space team.
- Working on language that would be incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025 that would help to advance Space based Solar Power.
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Demonstrations & Experiments
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Wireless power transmission is becoming a reality through US military projects that have tested 60% efficiency to Emrod, a New Zealand energy company Emrod.
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A joint experiment between Japan Space Systems and JAXA successfully tested the reception of radio waves at 13 different ground-based receivers from an aircraft flying at 7000 meters.
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Other Notable News
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China has placed a materials ban on gallium and germanium, key for III-V space solar cells, but companies like Rocket Lab can source these materials from alternative suppliers.
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Upcoming Events
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At the upcoming Satellite's GovMilSpace Conference in March 2025, Karen Jones of The Aerospace Corporation will be leading a panel of experts, which includes Dr. Paul Jaffe (DARPA), Dr. Erica Rodgers (NASA) and Dr. Ed Tate (Virtus Solis) on "Space Solar Power (SSP): How an US and Global Allies Invest and Participate?"
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Photo Credit: International Monetary Fund | |
Global Energy Insecurity
While data centers operated by tech giants have ever increasing power consumption, many still struggle to meet their basic electricity needs. The North American Energy Reliability Corp. has found that more than half of North America will face energy shortages in the next 5-10 years. From Arizona's Navajo Nation which has seen an uptick in data centers but has left consumers with more unaffordable electricity bills to the now-vulnerable power supply of Zambia which ran on hydropower until droughts brought on by climate change, leading residents to turn to coal. Northern Virginia's Loudoun County, known for their high concentration of data centers, will have to meet a tripled energy demand which may only be possible through renewable energy sources. Even the US as a whole could face electricity shortages due to Canada's potential retaliation by shutting down energy flows to the US in response to President-elect Trump's proposed tariffs. SBSP has potential to become a complementary solution that can provide security and stability to the power grid when other renewable energy and foreign dependencies are unable to. In addition, SBSP offers localized grid development, mitigating the conflict between federal agencies such as the Department of Energy and states, as seen in Oklahoma and Kansas' embrace of the DOE scrapping the development of 7 national transmission corridors and the refinement of 3.
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SBSP Coverage in the News | |
Outsiders' Perspectives
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Jane Marsh of the Renewable Energy Magazine lists pros and cons of SBSP such as being continuous and decentralized but cites barriers to development such as high initial costs, technical barriers such as energy transmissions, and potential issues such as security concerns and long-term maintenance. however she concludes with an optimistic view that current research and development can bring SBSP closer to reality.
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Jason Thomson of the Christian Science Monitor highlights practical demonstrations such as that of Caltech and Space Solar and intersperses excerpts from Space Solar co-CEO Martin Soltau on issues such as costs, as described in the NASA report, and environmental concerns.
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In Payload Space, Argyris Kriezis covers the varied approaches of Aetherflux, Star Catcher, Reflect Orbital, and Volta Space towards SBSP while also mentioning challenges. Notably, a few companies are missing from this analysis.
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Myth: Beamed power from space could be death rays
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Fact: The system would be specifically designed to ensure that the peak power density remains well below levels that could pose any threat to property or living beings. Built-in safeguards would further enhance safety, including redundant systems to prevent beam misalignment. One such system would be interlocked pilot beams from the ground station to the satellite ensuring that power is only transmitted when they are aligned. External attacks will be protected against using multiple layers of defense and automated responses to prevent harmful external attacks. These precautions ensure the safety of this technology and not subject to misuse. Find more information from ESA.
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