Caltech's SSPD-1 Completes Year-Long Mission, Demonstrating Key Innovations for Space Solar Power

Despite deployment challenges, all experiments were successful, providing valuable insights for future space solar power array designs.

Caltech's Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) has successfully completed its year-long mission, testing three technological innovations necessary to make space solar power a reality.
The mission demonstrated the ability to transmit power wirelessly in space, measured the efficiency and durability of different types of solar cells in space, and tested a lightweight deployable structure for holding solar cells and power transmitters.
Despite challenges during deployment, all experiments aboard SSPD-1 were ultimately successful, providing valuable insights for future space solar power array designs.
The mission was funded by philanthropist Donald Bren and Northrop Grumman Corporation, among others, and has been in progress for over a decade.
While the mission demonstrated the potential of space solar power, commercial viability is still a future prospect, with significant challenges to overcome in terms of cost and safety.