Virtus Solis, an American startup founded by former SpaceX rocket engineer John Bucknell, has plans to utilize the Starship rocket to launch solar cells that are one kilometer wide. This initiative aims to assist in generating and transmitting electricity in space. The concept of transmitting solar power from space was introduced by Virtus Solis at the International Conference on Space Energy in London.
Virtus Solis believes that SpaceX’s Starship rocket will revolutionize the production of solar power in space. This innovation will make orbital power plants more cost-effective compared to many methods used on Earth. The cost of launching satellites into space has significantly decreased in recent years, thanks to reusable rocket technology pioneered by SpaceX. Virtus Solis estimates that the cost of launching goods into space with SpaceX is currently less than $3,000 per kilogram.
With the promise of the Starship rocket reducing launch costs to $10 USD per kilogram, the production of solar power in space is projected to become more affordable. Bucknell envisions a future where solar power from space will be cheaper than traditional power sources like nuclear or coal power plants on Earth. Currently, solar power on Earth is one of the most affordable energy sources at less than $30 per megawatt-hour.
Virtus Solis plans to construct giant solar panels that are one kilometer wide. These panels can be assembled in orbit with the help of robots from 1.6-meter-wide modules. Their goal is to transport hundreds of these modules using the Starship rocket to the Molniya orbit, which orbits the Earth at altitudes ranging from 800 km to 35,000 km. The company aims to have a megawatt-level commercial solar power plant operational by the year 2030.