Star Catcher Industries is preparing for an orbital test of wireless power transmission between two independent spacecraft. The Protostar satellite is scheduled for launch in October 2026 from Vandenberg Space Force Base via the SpaceX Transporter-18 mission.
During the mission, the Protostar will release a small cubesat. The main craft will then track the cubesat and direct an optical energy beam at its solar panels to measure transmission efficiency. This test combines technologies previously validated on Earth and during the 2025 Sextant Alpha mission.
The company aims to build an orbital energy network to support Earth observation satellites, military hardware, and space-based data centers. Star Catcher has secured ten purchase agreements with firms including Starcloud, Loft Orbital, Astro Digital, and Aethero, alongside over 40 letters of intent.
Financial backing for the project includes $88 million in venture capital and a $60 million STRATFI contract from the US Space Force. Following the Protostar demonstration, the company plans to develop a larger next-generation craft for commercial energy delivery.
