Space Solar Power Project
The Caltech Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) is developing the technology that will be needed to one day harvest solar power in space and beam it down to Earth.
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Videos
Space Solar Power Project: DOLCE in space
DOLCE (Deployable on-Orbit ultraLight Composite Experiment) demonstrated the novel architecture, packaging scheme, and deployment mechanisms of the scalable modular spacecraft that could one day comprise a spaceborne solar array.
Credit: Caltech
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How Does Wireless Power Transfer Work?
Dr. Ali Hajimiri, Caltech Bren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering and Co-Director of the Space-Based Solar Power Project, explains how phased arrays and careful use of interference can direct the wireless transfer of power.
Credit: Caltech
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Space Solar Power Demonstrator
An animated look at Caltech's Space Solar Power Demonstrator.
Credit: Caltech
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Images and graphics
DOLCE halfway uncoiled
The DOLCE structure halfway uncoiled above Northwest Russia and the Barents Sea, on August 3, 2023. The structure is being uncoiled from the center of the image. Lengthened from DOLCE central mechanism to the corners of Momentus Vigoride 5 spacecraft's deck, DOLCE's four diagonal booms support the structure with reeled cords.
Credit: Space Solar Power Project/Caltech
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DOLCE finalizing its uncoiling (colorized view)
A colorized view of the DOLCE structure finalizing its uncoiling process, as seen from the boom camera, over Antarctica, on August 22, 2023. All four quadrants of the DOLCE structure can be seen forming an X shape over Momentus Vigoride 5 spacecraft's deck. Visible as well are MAPLE (golden, top left) and Alba (white, bottom left).
Credit: Space Solar Power Project/Caltech
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DOLCE completely deployed
The DOLCE structure completely deployed, over the Canadian Arctic, on September 29, 2023. DOLCE structure's TRAC longerons and battens are clearly visible above the Arctic ice. The fiberglass batten connectors are shining under the Sun (right part).
Credit: Space Solar Power Project/Caltech
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DOLCE completely deployed, as seen from below
The DOLCE structure completely deployed, as seen from below, from SSPD1 avionics box fisheye lens camera, over the Arctic Ocean, on September 25, 2023. DOLCE roller arms freed the structure and are laying horizontally in the foreground. Two diagonal booms are seen on each side of the picture, while the boom cameras are deployed far at the center.
Credit: Space Solar Power Project/Caltech
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SSPP component circuits
A demonstration of how thin and flexible the Space Solar Power Project components circuits are. (Released December 12, 2022)
Credit: Lance Hayashida/Caltech
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An early prototype of a complete SSPP tile
An early prototype of a complete Space Solar Power Project tile completed in 2018, with curved solar panels visible on top. (Released December 28, 2022)
Credit: Lance Hayashida/Caltech
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Space Solar Power Project Infographic
The pop-up antenna power transmitter array installed in MAPLE. (Released December 12, 2022)
Credit: Lance Hayashida/Caltech
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MAPLE interior
A view from inside MAPLE, which will demonstrate wireless power in space. This angle shows both the array of flexible light weight microwave power transmitters (right side) and the two receivers that they will transmit power to (left side). The top receiver is receiving power in this picture, and it is lit by this wirelessly transmitted power.
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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MAPLE interior
A view from inside MAPLE, which will demonstrate wireless power transmission in space. This angle shows both the array of flexible, lightweight microwave power transmitters (right side), and the two receivers that they will transmit power to (left side). The top receiver is receiving power in this picture, and it is lit by this wirelessly transmitted power.
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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DOLCE integration onto the Vigoride spacecraft
Engineers carefully lower the DOLCE portion of the Space Solar Power Demonstrator onto the Vigoride spacecraft built by Momentus (Released December 9, 2022)
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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Space Solar Power Demonstrator mounted on Vigoride spacecraft
Momentus's Vigoride spacecraft with the Space Solar Power Demonstrator integrated onto the top. The folded-up solar panels on the side of the spacecraft will help power the SSPD experiments. (Released December 9, 2022)
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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The DOLCE component in the unfolded configuration
The DOLCE component of the Space Solar Power Demonstrator, unfolded into a six-foot-by-six-foot configuration. The Space Solar Power Project will send hundreds of tightly packed solar panels into space unfurl themselves and fly in formation together. (Released December 9, 2022)
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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Space Solar Power Project Principal Investigators
(L to R) Sergio Pellegrino, Harry Atwater, and Ali Hajimiri, the principal investigators of the Space Solar Power Project. (Released December 9, 2022)
Credit: Caltech
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DOLCE integration into Vigoride spacecraft
Engineers from Caltech with Momentus's Vigoride spacecraft after integrating DOLCE. (Released December 9, 2022)
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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Austin Fikes (MS '18, PhD '22)
Austin Fikes (MS '18, PhD '22), postdoctoral scholar/research associate in electrical engineering at Caltech, began working on the Space Solar Power Project as a graduate student in 2016. (Released December 9, 2022)
Credit: Caltech/Momentus
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Additional resources
More high-resolution images:
Instrument photos | Researcher portraits | Lab and component photos
Media contact
Robert Perkins
Content and Media Strategics
Caltech Office of Strategic Communications
626-395-1862 (office)
626-658-1053 (mobile)
rperkins@caltech.edu