IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining)’s Post

🚀 How Satellite Solar Panels Are Folded for Launch 🚀 Ever wondered how massive solar panels on satellites get into space? It’s all about smart engineering! Before launch, the large solar arrays are folded up tightly, like origami, to fit inside the rocket. They're secured by special mechanisms that keep them safe and steady during the intense launch. Once the satellite reaches its orbit, these mechanisms release, and the panels gently unfold, ready to capture sunlight and power the satellite. 🌞 This amazing process ensures satellites stay powered and functional, making everything from GPS to communication possible! #SpaceTech #Satellite #Innovation #SolarPower #Engineering #SpaceExploration #Science

World’s 1st space solar power station that could beam energy to spacecraft Star Catcher Industries , a Florida-based startup, has secured $12.25 million in seed funding to develop the world’s first space-based energy grid. This innovative project aims to create a constellation of power-beaming satellites, providing a reliable power source for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Star Catcher’s ambitious plan is to revolutionize space operations by supplying energy at higher intensities than sunlight, enabling satellites to generate significantly more power. This advancement will be crucial as the population of LEO satellites is expected to exceed 40,000 by 2030, dramatically increasing the demand for power. Andrew Rush, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Star Catcher, stated, “Power infrastructure is the foundational building block of civilization and industry; our goal is to expand that foundation into LEO and beyond with our in-space power grid and service.” With an in-orbit demonstration planned for 2025, Star Catcher is set to transform how satellites operate, paving the way for a new era in space technology. #SolarPower #SpaceTechnology #Innovation #StarCatcher #SpaceSolar #LEOSatellites #RenewableEnergy #SpaceIndustry #EnergySolutions #TechInnovation

"From Space to Earth: The Evolution of Solar Panels" Solar panels, originally conceived for space exploration, were first utilized to power satellites and spacecraft. Over time, this pioneering technology transitioned to terrestrial applications, revolutionizing renewable energy. #SolarPower #SpaceExploration #RenewableEnergy #Innovation

Solar energy is an incredibly abundant resource, with 173,000 terawatts striking the Earth continuously. This exceeds the world's total energy use by more than 10,000 times. The space industry was an early adopter of solar power, utilizing this technology to power spacecraft as far back as the 1960s. Vanguard 1, the first spacecraft to use solar cells, remains the oldest artificial satellite still in orbit around Earth. #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #SpaceIndustry 🌍🚀

The first-ever space solar power tests are finished after a year in orbit | #SpaceSolarPower #CleanEnergyRevolution #InnovationInOrbit #SustainableFuture #HarnessingTheSun https://hubs.la/Q02gLN230

Star Catcher, a pioneer in space-based energy generation, is out of stealth! Congratulations to the team on successfully closing a $12.25M Seed Round. B Capital Chair and General Partner Howard Morgan Morgan has been a longtime investor in the space sector, and according to him, “Star Catcher is developing as one of the most potentially transformational technologies in the dynamic and continuously evolving space technology sector. Satellite launch costs continue to fall, and power needs are accelerating with onboard processing. At the same time, energy demand is vastly outstripping the supply that current solar panels and batteries provide. Star Catcher’s founders are drawing from their extensive industry experience to tackle this opportunity with a unique approach. At B Capital, we support pioneering founders and companies shaping our future through technology and are confident Star Catcher has the vision, roadmap, and team to build the core infrastructure that will power and reshape the future space economy.” Read more here about how Star Catcher plans to validate and test its technology here: https://lnkd.in/gRHhFJWt" #VentureCapital #Space #Technology CC: Howard Morgan, Patrick Harmon Lopez, Abhiram Kumar

𝐀 '𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞' 𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 10𝐭𝐡 This is the first alert of its kind in nearly two decades, promising not only a dazzling display of the Northern Lights across much of the U.S. — but also significant risks for our technological infrastructure. That is the second-strongest kind of geomagnetic storm that is triggered by several high energy plasma bursts from the sun. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡: 🔺 Satellite operators might face difficulties in tracking their spacecraft due to the intense solar activity. 🔺  Electric power grids may experience induced currents, potentially affecting operations. #spaceweather #spacetech #innovation #space

⚡️ Powering space missions with light! Redwire Space makes history with the first commercial integration of its innovative Roll-Out #SolarArray (ROSA) systems onboard #Ovzon3 satellite. Redwire Space proves solar power's robust potential for sustainable space infrastructure again with its Roll-Out Solar Array systems successfully integrated on the Ovzon 3 satellite. Following ISS & Mars missions, this LEO to GEO tech validation ushers an new era of clean energy innovation from Earth to the Moon. Key Details : ⚡️ROSA’s groundbreaking design is also helping to supply power for the Maxar-built Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) 🚀 OSA technology, which will provide reliable, compact, and scalable solar power generation for the spacecraft 🌿 First commercial integration of Redwire’s ROSA technology ➡️ Read the news piece here : https://lnkd.in/gV8zCV4R #SolarPower #SpaceInfrastructure #NewSpace #LEO #GEO #spaceeconomy #NewSpace #SolarPower Maxar Technologies Maxar Space Systems Redwire Space Europe

AST SpaceMobile Unfolds First Direct-to-Smartphone Satellites 🛰 AST SpaceMobile has successfully deployed its first five Block 1 BlueBird satellites, featuring the largest commercial solar arrays in low Earth orbit. These satellites, each with a 64-square-meter solar array, are set to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity. While awaiting FCC approval for U.S. operations with AT&T and Verizon, AST SpaceMobile has permission to test services internationally. Block 2 BlueBirds which will be launched next year, will significantly enhance bandwidth and data speeds. AST SpaceMobile was also selected for the U.S. Space Development Agency’s HALO program to accelerate satellite tech development. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gK9sgzDj #SpaceEconomy #SpaceIndustry #SpaceNews #ASTSpaceMobile #SatelliteConnectivity #DirectToSmartphone #LEO #Broadband #SpaceTechnology

The post about Vanguard 1 tells the story of the oldest satellite still in orbit! Launched by the United States in 1958, this little satellite was the first to be powered by solar energy. Even though it was only meant to last a short time, it's STILL out there, circling the Earth over sixty years later. This tiny piece of history not only shows how far we've come in space exploration but also how impressive early technology can be! It's amazing to think that something built so long ago is still up there, a silent witness to all our advancements in space. #SpaceInnovation #SpaceTech #SatelliteCommunications #quubdata #quubspace