The concept of harnessing solar energy from space has been a longstanding aspiration for scientists, and now, after over half a century, a significant breakthrough has been achieved. A team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has announced the success of their pioneering experiment, marking the first demonstration of wireless energy transfer in space. The experiment, conducted using the Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1), involved collecting sunlight, converting it into electricity, and transmitting it via microwaves to rooftop receivers at Caltech’s Pasadena campus.
The groundbreaking achievement, which occurred on Thursday, confirms the viability of the setup that was launched on January 3. The experiment also underscores the resilience of the system in withstanding the challenges posed by the harsh space environment. Dr. Ali Hajimiri, co-director of Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) and a professor of electrical engineering and medical engineering, expressed his enthusiasm about the team’s accomplishment. “To the best of our knowledge, no one has ever demonstrated wireless energy transfer in space even with expensive rigid structures. We are doing it with flexible lightweight structures and with our own integrated circuits. This is a first,” he stated in a press release.
