Star Catcher Awarded AFWERX SBIR Phase 1 to Advance Space-to-Space Power Beaming
Air Force Supports Development of First Space Energy Grid to Enhance Spacecraft Capabilities
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Star Catcher Industries, Inc. (Star Catcher), the leader in space-to-space power beaming, today announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase 1 to advance space-to-space power beaming for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft enhancement. The Department of the Air Force has a vital and urgent need to increase satellite power capabilities to meet real-time requirements and match mounting threats from near-peer adversaries like China and Russia. The goal of this effort is to validate Star Catcher’s core space-to-space power beaming technologies and enhance them for military readiness.
Star Catcher is building the first space energy grid – the Star Catcher Network – in order to address the power limitations currently seen in space assets. Once constructed, the Star Catcher Network will beam significant levels of broad spectrum energy to spacecraft in 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 up to five to ten times more power without retrofit. This increase in power will enable satellites to support more power-hungry payloads, extend operational uptime, perform real-time data processing, and execute more complex missions, all while reducing complexity and upfront costs related to larger satellite buses and solar arrays.
“This contract marks a significant step toward realizing our vision of a space energy grid,” says Andrew Rush, CEO of Star Catcher. “Space-to-space power beaming is key infrastructure that will fundamentally change how spacecraft access power, enhancing operational capabilities and resilience for both defense and commercial applications.“
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
ABOUT STAR CATCHER 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 AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
ABOUT AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit afwerx.com.
COMPANY PRESS CONTACT:
Camille Bergin
CMO
[email protected]
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SOURCE Star Catcher Industries, Inc.
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