The goal is Space Solar Power for civilian applications.
SSPD-1 marks a significant achievement in a project that has been in development for over ten years, attracting global attention as a key advancement for a technology being explored by various countries. It was launched on January 3, 2023, aboard a Momentus Vigoride spacecraft, as part of the Caltech Space Solar Power Project (SSPP).
The project is spearheaded by professors Harry Atwater, Ali Hajimiri, and Sergio Pellegrino. SSPD-1 includes three primary experiments, each designed to test a distinct technological approach.
The Experiments.
2
DOLCE
(Deployable on-Orbit ultraLight Composite Experiment): a structure measuring 1.8 meters by 1.8 meters that demonstrates the novel architecture, packaging scheme, and deployment mechanisms of the scalable modular spacecraft that will eventually make up a kilometer-scale constellation to serve as a power station.
3
MAPLE
(Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment): an array of flexible, lightweight microwave-power transmitters based on custom integrated circuits with precise timing control to focus power selectively on two different receivers to demonstrate wireless power transmission at distance in space.
Visuals of the prototype.
Space Solar Power Demonstrator
Space Solar Power Project
Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into Orbit
Caltech to launch space solar power technology demo into orbit in January
SSPP Deployment Test
