Space technology has seen unprecedented growth in the last few decades. From reusable rockets to private space stations, a new commercial space age is dawning — and the latest addition to this evolving story is Aetherflux, a startup founded by billionaire Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt. Aetherflux is emerging from stealth with a bold plan: to beam solar power from orbit back to Earth.
SpaceTech’s Next Frontier: Aetherflux Aims to Bring Solar Power from Orbit to Earth
Space technology has seen unprecedented growth in the last few decades. From reusable rockets to private space stations, a new commercial space age is dawning — and the latest addition to this evolving story is Aetherflux, a startup founded by billionaire Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt. Aetherflux is emerging from stealth with a bold plan: to beam solar power from orbit back to Earth.
Baiju Bhatt is perhaps best known for co-founding Robinhood, the trading platform that popularized commission-free stock trading. Now, after stepping back from his leadership role there, Bhatt is devoting his time and substantial personal capital to a completely different pursuit — space-based solar power.
This pivot might come as a surprise, but Bhatt’s roots in physics and math (earned at Stanford) and familial connections to NASA (his father worked at Langley Air Force Base) provide some insight into his fascination with outer space. As he puts it, “The thing that’s always been my interest is, how do you bring more capitalism to space?”
Where many earlier studies focused on building large, costly solar power stations in geostationary orbit (GEO), Aetherflux wants to do something different:
Although each satellite will gather less power individually (due to its smaller size and intermittent exposure to the sun), the collective swarm could deliver significant amounts of energy to Earth — especially if the constellations scale to thousands of satellites.
Aetherflux’s first mission is slated for late 2025 or early 2026, in partnership with satellite manufacturer Apex. Bhatt, whose net worth is estimated to exceed $1.7 billion, says he has invested “millions” of his own dollars into the startup. He is committed to fully funding Aetherflux through its initial demonstration flight.
If Aetherflux’s demonstration proves the feasibility of transmitting solar energy over great distances using infrared lasers, it could represent a watershed moment for space-based power. Success would likely accelerate competition from other companies, creating a new spacetech race to supply terrestrial energy needs from the heavens.
In many ways, Aetherflux’s plans are emblematic of the latest wave of space entrepreneurship: big, bold, and potentially game-changing. As more startups adopt a commercial mindset toward orbit, we can expect more “impossible” ideas to move from science fiction to reality.
Will space-based solar eventually compete effectively with terrestrial renewables? It’s too early to say. But Aetherflux and its founder, Baiju Bhatt, are betting millions that with a fresh design and enough satellites in low Earth orbit, the power of the sun can be harnessed 24/7 — and beamed down to Earth to keep our lights on.
SpaceTech is not just about launching rockets; it’s about transforming and elevating key industries — from global communications and climate solutions to energy generation. Aetherflux serves as a vivid example of how creative entrepreneurship is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in orbit. If their vision for powering the world from space succeeds, it could mark a milestone in human innovation and further cement space as the next great frontier for sustainable development and commerce.
