Meta has signed an agreement with Star Catcher Industries, a startup developing space based solar power technology. The deal marks an early commercial step toward beaming solar energy from orbit to Earth, a concept that could one day provide consistent renewable power regardless of weather or time of day.
What the agreement entails
Under the terms of the contract, Star Catcher will deliver a specific amount of power to Meta’s data center operations. The power will be transmitted wirelessly from satellites equipped with large solar arrays that collect sunlight in space and convert it into electricity.
The energy will then be converted into a beam, likely microwave or laser, and sent to receiving stations on the ground. These ground stations would need to be located in areas with clear access to the sky and sufficient space for the receiving infrastructure.
Current limitations and timeline
Star Catcher plans to launch its first demonstration satellite within the next three years. The technology remains unproven at commercial scale, and significant engineering challenges remain in areas such as power conversion efficiency, beam focusing, and safety.
The company has not disclosed the financial terms of the agreement or the specific power capacity that Meta has contracted. Industry analysts note that any deployable system is likely at least a decade away from generating meaningful amounts of power for a data center.
Why space based solar matters
Terrestrial solar power depends on daylight and clear skies, which limits its ability to provide baseline power for round the clock operations. Data centers operated by companies like Meta require a constant electricity supply to maintain server uptime and cooling systems.
Space based solar arrays would orbit above the atmosphere, collecting sunlight for a much higher percentage of each day. They could also be positioned in geostationary orbit to provide continuous power to a fixed location on Earth.
Technical and economic hurdles
The cost of launching large solar arrays into orbit remains prohibitive. Current SpaceX Starship pricing, however, could reduce launch costs enough to make the concept economically viable. Star Catcher has said it plans to use reusable launch vehicles to deploy its satellite network.
Additional challenges include maintaining precise beam targeting, ensuring public safety for aviation and wildlife, and building ground based power conversion stations that can handle high energy density beams without overheating.
Industry context and future outlook
Several other companies and government agencies are pursuing similar concepts. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has conducted ground based tests of wireless power transmission, and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is evaluating space based solar for military applications.
If Star Catcher’s demonstration mission succeeds, it could pave the way for larger commercial contracts. Meta’s involvement signals that major technology firms are beginning to explore alternative power sources as part of their carbon reduction strategies. The next steps include regulatory approvals for wireless power transmission frequencies and ground station siting in areas with stable weather patterns.
