Former Space Shuttle Landing Site to Host Star Catcher’s Power Beaming Demo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Star Catcher Industries, Inc. (“Star Catcher”), the leader in space-to-space power beaming, announced today a strategic partnership with Space Florida, the state’s independent aerospace finance and development authority, to advance the world’s first space energy grid. As part of this partnership, Star Catcher will conduct a large-scale demonstration later this summer of its groundbreaking power beaming technology at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), a historic site integral to advancing space technology innovation. This first-of-its-kind demonstration will serve as a critical proof point for the technology, accelerating the development of an operational space power grid and driving adoption among satellite operators.

Star Catcher is building the first space energy grid – the Star Catcher Network – designed to eliminate power constraints for spacecraft. Once constructed, the Star Catcher Network will beam significant levels of broad spectrum energy to spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. The network will deliver on-demand energy to existing solar arrays on client spacecraft at higher concentrations than the Sun, enabling them to generate five to ten times more power without retrofit.

Space Florida’s LLF, which was used for Space Shuttle landings until 2011, boasts one of the longest runways in the world. Leveraging the LLF’s 5 kilometers of unobstructed line-of-sight distance, the demonstration will showcase Star Catcher’s ability to beam energy hundreds of Watts to multiple simulated satellites simultaneously over a distance of more than one kilometer.

“Partnering with Space Florida allows us to accelerate the development and validation of our power beaming technology in an environment familiar to pioneering new technologies for space,” said Andrew Rush, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Star Catcher. “This is a critical step in demonstrating the scalability of our vision for a space energy grid that will revolutionize how we power spacecraft.“

The partnership also includes an investment in Star Catcher by Space Florida, underscoring the State of Florida’s commitment to fostering innovation and driving the growth of Florida’s space economy.

“This partnership reflects Space Florida’s mission to support pioneering technologies and invest in the infrastructure required to ensure our state remains at the forefront of the global space industry,” said Rob Long, President and CEO, Space Florida. “The Launch and Landing Facility is an ideal location for Star Catcher’s groundbreaking work, and we are thrilled to support the advancement of power beaming technology.“

This announcement builds on Star Catcher’s recent success, including closing a $12.25M seed funding round in July 2024. The funding, co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital with substantial participation from Rogue VC, has allowed the company to accelerate its vision and expand development efforts, setting the stage for the creation of a space energy grid that will transform the industry by eliminating power generation constraints.

About Star Catcher Industries

Star Catcher is pioneering the first space energy grid – the Star Catcher Network – designed to eliminate power constraints for satellites and other spacecraft. This groundbreaking space-to-space power beaming infrastructure will deliver concentrated solar energy to existing solar panels with no retrofit required, enabling satellites to support more power-hungry payloads, extend operational uptime, perform real-time data processing, and execute more complex missions, all while reducing upfront costs associated with larger satellite buses and solar arrays. Star Catcher was founded in 2024 by seasoned space entrepreneurs Andrew Rush and Michael Snyder, alongside venture capitalist and operator Bryan Lyandvert. The company raised a $12.5 million seed round in July 2024, co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital.

About Space Florida

Space Florida is where leading aerospace companies get everything they need to see their new ideas take off. As the state’s independent aerospace finance and development authority, Space Florida brings a mix of unrivaled experience, unmatched financial tools, and unbeatable location to the table by providing critical business financing opportunities for the aerospace industry, managing infrastructure investment in the state’s spaceport system, and facilitating research and development, workforce, education, and investment programs. 

CONTACT

Star Catcher

Camille Bergin, CMO (Fractional)

[email protected]

Space Florida

Alayna Curry, APR

[email protected]

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SOURCE Star Catcher Industries, Inc.

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