Revolutionizing Space Energy: Virtus Solis and the Starship Rocket

SpaceX has revolutionized the space industry with its reusable rocket technology, significantly reducing the cost of launching satellites into space. However, even with these advancements, the cost of producing solar power in space remains high due to the need for large solar panels that are bigger than the International Space Station.

Virtus Solis, a Michigan startup founded by former SpaceX rocket engineer John Bucknell, is introducing a plan to use the Starship rocket to launch solar cells one kilometer wide into space. The goal is to help produce and transmit electricity in space at a cheaper price than traditional methods on Earth. This idea was presented at the International Conference on Space Energy in London and aims to make orbital power plants more accessible and affordable.

The company believes that once launch costs to low Earth orbit fall below $200 per kilogram, solar power in space will become cheaper than nuclear, coal, and natural gas plants on the ground. Currently, solar cells on Earth provide the cheapest power source at less than $30 per megawatt hour. However, energy experts are seeking alternative ways to offset the decline in electricity during dark hours. Virtus Solis plans to build giant solar panels in space that can capture and transmit energy to Earth in the form of microwaves.

The company aims to improve the efficiency of wireless power transmission, a crucial hurdle in generating solar power in space. Currently, systems have an efficiency of about 5%, but Virtus Solis is working to increase that to 20%. By testing solar cell assembly in space and aiming to transmit over a kilowatt of electricity to Earth by 2027, Virtus Solis hopes to build a commercial-scale solar power plant by 2030, with costs reduced to around $30 per megawatt hour.

In summary, Virtus Solis’ plan aims to make orbital power plants cheaper than many methods on Earth by using reusable rockets like Starship. The company believes that once launch costs drop below $200 per kilogram, solar power in space will become more accessible and affordable for businesses and individuals alike. With improvements in wireless power transmission efficiency and advances in satellite technology, Virtus Solis’ plan could pave the way for a new era of sustainable energy production beyond our planet’s boundaries.