Breaking: Moving-Platform Wireless Power Beaming Moves Closer to space-Based Solar Power
On a blustery November afternoon, a Cessna turboprop traced a path over Pennsylvania at about 5,000 meters while winds gusted up to 70 knots. During the flight, ground receivers captured a beam of power from the moving aircraft, marking a milestone in wireless power transfer.
The test was carried out by overview Energy, a startup based in Ashburn, virginia, which surfaced from stealth last year with the capability to beam power from a moving platform. The broader ambition behind the flight is to prove a path toward space‑based solar power: harvesting solar energy in space and transmitting it to Earth via near-infrared beams to existing ground solar farms.
Overview’s long-term plan envisions placing solar collectors in geosynchronous orbit to gather sunlight around the clock and relay the energy back to Earth. The energy would arrive as infrared radiation and be captured by conventional solar installations on the ground, enabling daytime-like energy delivery without depending on daylight. The concept—space-based solar power—has piqued interest and debate for years, with researchers pursuing both theoretical and practical progress.
Recent milestones include a DARPA milestone in mid-2025, where a new record was set for wireless power transmission: 800 watts over 8.6 kilometers for 30 seconds, using a laser beam. While the moving‑platform test by Overview did not match those power levels, officials say it used the same core hardware and methods planned for orbital deployment, underscoring a stepping-stone approach to scale up.
Overview’s chief executive described the test as a watershed moment: it is not only the first time optical power beaming from a moving platform has been demonstrated at notable range and power, but also the first instance of all critical components functioning together in a real-world scenario.The company plans to translate this live demonstration into spaceflight readiness over time.
Influence from the test helped recruit space‑power researchers to the project. One prominent expert left a government program management post to join Overview as head of systems engineering, bringing decades of naval and national‑lab experience to the effort. The emphasis has been on how to manage beam safety while maximizing power delivery, a balancing act central to any practical space‑based solar system.
Experts caution that while microwaves have long been favored for wireless power in the past, they occupy a crowded slice of the spectrum and raise safety and regulatory concerns. Overview has pivoted toward wider, lower‑density infrared beams, arguing that existing ground receivers can handle the energy without new hardware—at least in principle. The next major phase involves testing a low Earth orbit prototype, with a longer‑term aim of beaming megawatts from GEO by 2030 and gigawatts later in the decade.
Despite the optimism, the space‑based solar power concept faces skepticism about orbital debris resilience and the high cost of launching and maintaining large power stations. Still, proponents say breakthroughs like the recent moving‑platform test show the essential technologies are maturing, bringing the idea from theory toward practical experimentation.
What makes space-based solar power a consideration?
Infrared beams, if safely implemented, could offer a continuous energy resource by tapping into solar energy in space. This approach would not depend on day/night cycles, weather, or regional solar conditions on Earth. The challenge remains: how to scale up transmission,ensure safety across large receiving areas,and manage launch costs and space operations.
For context, the field has seen demonstrations in space using microwaves, but infrared paths may sidestep some spectrum-use conflicts. The ongoing work at Overview and its collaborators reflects a broader push to test the most practical pathways toward a usable space‑derived energy stream on Earth.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Wireless power beaming from a moving aircraft over Pennsylvania |
| Date | Test conducted in November (year not stated in primary sources) |
| Aircraft | Cessna turboprop |
| Altitude | Approximately 5,000 meters |
| Crosswinds | Up to 70 knots |
| Organizing group | Overview Energy, Ashburn, Virginia |
| Purpose | Demonstrate feasibility of space‑based solar power via ground receivers |
| Next steps | Prototype in low Earth orbit; aim for megawatts from GEO by 2030, then gigawatts later |
| Safety & spectrum | Infrared beams proposed to avoid crowded microwave spectrum; safety remains a central focus |
Questions remain for readers: Do you think infrared power beaming from space can meet energy needs while keeping communities safe? should policy makers accelerate research into space‑based solar power, given its potential benefits and costs?
As the project advances, observers will watch for demonstrations that connect laboratory concepts with scalable, real‑world energy delivery. The coming years will be pivotal for determining whether space‑based solar power can become a practical,long‑term pillar of the global energy mix.
Share your thoughts below: would you support ongoing funding and practical pilots for space‑based solar power, or do you favor focusing on traditional terrestrial energy sources?
For broader context, see coverage on space‑based energy research and related power‑beaming developments as the field evolves.