Ascent Solar and Star Catcher Partner to Boost Space-Based Solar Power with 5-10x Power Increase

Ascent Solar Technologies has signed an MOU with Star Catcher Industries to enhance thin-film PV solutions for space applications. The partnership aims to provide satellite operators with 5-10x more power through Star Catcher's power beaming service, exploring power augmentation, backup solutions, bundled technologies, and joint demonstration missions. This collaboration has the potential to transform the space power sector and open new market opportunities for Ascent Solar Technologies.

Ascent Solar Technologies, a leading innovator in flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Star Catcher Industries to enhance thin-film PV solutions for space applications. The partnership aims to provide satellite operators with up to five to ten times more power through Star Catcher's innovative power beaming service, exploring key areas such as power augmentation, backup solutions, bundled technologies, and joint demonstration missions. This collaboration has the potential to transform the space power sector and open new market opportunities for Ascent Solar Technologies.

Star Catcher Industries is pioneering the first space energy grid, offering a space-to-space power beaming service. By transmitting concentrated solar energy to clients' existing onboard solar arrays without requiring retrofitting, Star Catcher can significantly increase power availability for satellite operators. This service complements Ascent's thin-film solar solutions, which are optimized for use in space and other demanding environments.

The MOU outlines several collaborative objectives, including:

1. Power Augmentation: Integrating Star Catcher's beamed energy to provide Ascent's customers with continuous augmented power, even during high-demand operations.
2. Backup Solutions: Utilizing Star Catcher's platform to ensure uninterrupted operations during outages, such as eclipses or power failures.
3. Bundled Solutions: Offering joint power solutions that seamlessly intertwine Ascent's thin-film PV technology with Star Catcher's power augmentation capabilities.
4. Joint Demonstration Missions: Collaborating on ground or in-space demonstrations to test and showcase the capabilities of the combined technologies.

Ascent Solar Technologies' CEO, Paul Warley, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, "Working in tandem with Star Catcher opens up several new possibilities and market opportunities for Ascent. Through this MOU, our companies will be able to tackle joint customer and mission objectives. Beyond that, this marks an incredible chance for our companies to further work toward the proliferation of improved solar solutions in orbit to meet growing demand for next-generation power solutions."

This collaboration addresses a critical bottleneck in satellite operations and spacecraft design: the trade-off between power density and weight. While conventional rigid solar panels provide higher efficiency but add significant weight, Ascent's flexible thin-film approach reduces weight but typically delivers lower power density. Star Catcher's beaming technology potentially addresses this trade-off by maintaining the benefits of lightweight thin-film while dramatically boosting available power.

While this partnership is still in its early stages, it establishes a framework for potentially transformative collaboration in the rapidly expanding space power sector. Ascent Solar Technologies' 40 years of R&D and 15 years of manufacturing experience, coupled with Star Catcher's innovative power beaming service, could lead to significant advancements in space solar technology.

References:
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/28/3140721/0/en/Ascent-Solar-Technologies-Signs-MOU-with-Star-Catcher-Industries-to-Improve-Power-Capabilities-for-Thin-Film-Solar-Technology-in-Space.html
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ASTI/ascent-solar-technologies-signs-mou-with-star-catcher-industries-to-6s98qgugth70.html