Flight Software Engineer 2 - Space Systems

Pentagon bets on space-based Solar Power as U.S. Military advances Solar Power technology. The U.S. military is investing in new solar power technology designed to beam energy from space. The Pentagon is increasing its investment in space-based solar power as the U.S. military explores new ways to generate and deliver electricity to remote and operational locations. Recent contracts are supporting demonstrations of technologies designed to collect solar energy in space and transmit it to Earth, marking another step in the development of orbital energy systems. The effort is being supported through the Pentagon's Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF), a program focused on advancing and demonstrating emerging energy technologies for military applications. Space-based power beaming is now included among the technologies being developed under its combat power portfolio. Recent projects involve two different approaches to solar power technology. Overview Energy is developing a system that would transmit energy using near-infrared light, while Katalyst Space is working with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory on a microwave-based system. Pentagon funds new space-based Solar Power demonstrations. The latest development came in September when Virginia-based Overview Energy announced that it had received an OECIF contract to develop a homing beacon for its space solar energy system. The beacon is designed to help satellites identify and establish a connection with designated receiving sites on Earth. Overview's system would collect sunlight in orbit and convert the energy into a near-infrared beam that could be directed toward terrestrial infrastructure. According to Breaking Defense, the beacon is intended to provide precise targeting and authentication before a satellite transmits power. The company expects to demonstrate the technology in the coming period, although the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the value of the contract. The contract follows an earlier Air Force study involving Overview Energy. That work examined potential applications for space-based solar power in environments where traditional energy logistics could be constrained or vulnerable. Katalyst Space takes a different approach. Katalyst Space is pursuing another path under the Pentagon's energy investment program. The company was selected for the Advanced Scalable Growth Architecture for Robotic Deployment, or ASGARD, program. Under the project, Katalyst plans to develop and launch a robotic spacecraft capable of assembling a large power-beaming structure while in orbit. The spacecraft would use robotic arms to connect modular components developed with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The system is designed to collect solar energy and convert it into radio-frequency microwave energy. The microwave signal would then be transmitted toward Earth, where receiving equipment could convert the energy into usable electricity. Katalyst announced the OECIF contract on September 21, describing the project as a demonstration of on-orbit assembly and power transmission. The company said the system is intended to provide a scalable approach because large power-beaming structures could exceed the size limitations of individual launch vehicles. How Solar Power from space works. The basic principle behind solar power from space involves placing photovoltaic equipment in orbit where it can collect sunlight and then converting that energy into a form that can be transmitted wirelessly. The Air Force Research Laboratory has been developing related technology through its Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research, or SSPIDR, project. AFRL's system uses photovoltaic cells to collect solar energy, converts that energy into radio-frequency power and beams it toward a receiving antenna on the ground. The receiving antenna, known as a rectenna, converts the radio-frequency energy back into usable electricity. AFRL identifies several technical areas that need to be developed for an operational system, including energy generation, thermal management, deployable structures, RF beaming, distributed control and beam-forming technology. The technology is being developed as a series of demonstrations rather than as a single immediate deployment. This allows researchers to test individual components before attempting to integrate them into a larger orbital power system. Why the U.S. Military is exploring space-based energy. The U.S. military has a particular interest in reliable power for remote and forward operating locations. Military installations can require electricity for communications, sensors, computing systems, surveillance equipment and other operations. Traditional power supplies in remote areas can depend on fuel deliveries and terrestrial infrastructure. Those supply routes can require vehicles, aircraft or ships, creating additional logistical requirements. AFRL has identified fuel convoys and supply lines as a significant challenge for forward operations. Its space power research is intended to investigate whether energy could instead be delivered through an orbital system and accessed through a receiving antenna on the ground. Space-based systems could also operate independently of some terrestrial infrastructure. A receiving station could potentially be established at a location where expanding conventional electrical infrastructure would be difficult. Microwave and near-infrared technologies. The Pentagon's current projects illustrate two different methods of transmitting energy. Katalyst Space is developing microwave power transmission based on technology from the Naval Research Laboratory. Its planned orbital system would use modular tiles to collect solar energy and convert it into radio-frequency microwave energy. Overview Energy is pursuing near-infrared transmission. Its satellites are designed to collect solar energy and convert it into a near-infrared beam directed toward an authenticated receiving location. Both approaches require accurate targeting and specialized ground infrastructure. The receiving system must be positioned correctly so that the transmitted energy can be captured and converted into electricity. The different approaches also demonstrate that solar power technology in space is still undergoing development. Researchers and companies are testing multiple technical pathways rather than relying on one established architecture. Large orbital structures remain a challenge. Building a large-scale space solar system presents engineering challenges that do not exist for conventional solar farms on Earth. A large orbital power station would require extensive photovoltaic surfaces, power-conversion equipment, transmission hardware and supporting structures. Launching all of that equipment in a single spacecraft would not be practical for very large systems, which is why programs such as ASGARD are investigating robotic assembly in orbit. The components would also have to operate in the harsh space environment. Radiation, extreme temperature changes and long-term exposure to space can affect photovoltaic cells and electronic systems. Transmission efficiency is another important consideration. A practical system would need to collect and convert substantial amounts of sunlight while delivering enough usable energy to the receiving location to justify the complexity of the orbital infrastructure. U.S. Investment in space photovoltaics expands. Interest in space-based solar power is not limited to the Pentagon. The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $12 million funding opportunity in August 2026 aimed at advancing space photovoltaic technology and expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities. The DOE initiative focuses on improving solar panels designed for space applications and supporting the development of next-generation photovoltaic systems. The department said the investment is intended to accelerate technical innovation and strengthen U.S. capabilities in space-based photovoltaic manufacturing. The additional government funding provides a broader research base for technologies that could eventually support orbital energy systems. Improvements in photovoltaic efficiency, manufacturing and durability could affect both military and commercial space applications. Pentagon Space Solar Power efforts move into testing. The Pentagon's latest contracts are focused on demonstrating specific technologies required for space-based solar power, rather than deploying a full-scale orbital power network. Overview Energy is working on the targeting and authentication technology needed to direct near-infrared energy to receiving sites. Katalyst Space is developing robotic on-orbit assembly and microwave power transmission with the Naval Research Laboratory. At the same time, AFRL continues research into photovoltaic collection, RF transmission, deployable structures and other components. These projects place greater emphasis on testing individual systems in realistic operating conditions. The results will determine how effectively different solar power technology approaches can collect energy in space, transmit it over long distances and deliver usable electricity to Earth. For the U.S. military, the immediate focus remains on developing reliable power options for locations where conventional energy logistics can be difficult. As demonstrations progress, space-based solar power will continue to be evaluated alongside other emerging energy technologies being developed for military operations.

Katalyst wins OECIF contract for on-orbit power beaming. September 21, 2026 Katalyst will demonstrate on-orbit assembly of large-scale infrastructure for space-based solar power BROOMFIELD, Colo. - September 21, 2026 - Katalyst Space announced its selection by the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) to demonstrate space-based power beaming to remote locations. Under the Advanced Scalable Growth Architecture for Robotic Deployment (ASGARD) program, Katalyst will develop and launch a robotic spacecraft that will assemble a large-format power beaming system on orbit and transmit power back to Earth. At the center of the effort is Katalyst's NEXUS platform, a multi-mission robotic spacecraft designed to provide the mobility, manipulation, and autonomy needed to build and operate complex systems in space. "A multi-mission, multi-use robotic spacecraft is a key enabler that makes capabilities like power beaming possible," said Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst Space. "By combining capabilities like robotics, capture, and assembly on a single platform, the NEXUS platform supports a broad range of applications." Space-based energy generation has the potential to deliver power directly to remote operational locations, disaster areas, or regions where the grid is constrained or disrupted - without relying on fuel supplies, generation, or traditional terrestrial infrastructure. Reducing dependence on legacy energy sources strengthens national security while enabling resilient power for on-orbit missions and future space and lunar exploration. This will advance OECIF's focus on delivering energy resilience to warfighters in operational environments for the Department of War. "This important, first-of-a-kind technology opens new pathways for operational energy in space," Director of Operational Energy - Innovation RuthAnne Darling said. "Demonstrating this groundbreaking technology, autonomously assembling large-scale power and energy collectors in space, is the first step and a foundational one." Power-beaming at scale requires structures that exceed the volume constraints of a single launch vehicle. On-orbit assembly addresses this challenge by launching the unassembled components and assembling them on orbit, creating a scalable path toward expanding space infrastructure. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has a long history of advancing space robotics and pioneering technologies that reinforce American leadership in space. NRL has developed breakthrough direct current-to-microwave conversion technology that makes large-scale space-based power beaming commercially and operationally viable. For ASGARD, NEXUS will launch to low Earth orbit (LEO) with modular tiles currently in development by NRL, under OECIF funding. NEXUS will use its robotic arms to assemble these tiles on-orbit, creating a large-format power beaming system. Once assembled, the NRL-designed tiles will collect solar energy, convert it into radio frequency microwave energy, and transmit that energy to Earth. This will be one of the largest demonstrations of on-orbit assembly and operation of power-beaming infrastructure. "Advancing space-based power beaming requires successful partnerships between government and industry," said Acting Director of NRL's Naval Center for Space Technology, Bernard Kelm. "OECIF is a great example of how leveraging public-private partnerships can accelerate the delivery of on-orbit capabilities." "We are excited to partner with NRL on the ASGARD program, and leverage NRL's expertise to create a quicker path towards operational deployment," said Lee. "Robotic servicing is enabling a wholesale change of space operations, including power beaming. The system is designed from the outset to be resupplied, expanded, and scaled over time. We envision a future where this capability grows from kilowatts to megawatts, providing resilient power at scale." About Katalyst Space Katalyst Space is an American defense technology company. Founded in 2020, Katalyst is building a fleet of autonomous robotic space vehicles capable of docking to unlock new life and new missions. NEXUS is Katalyst's flagship spacecraft, designed to manipulate objects in space, moving beyond static, single-use assets to dynamic, multi-use, multi-mission spacecraft. NEXUS advances Katalyst's vision for the future of dynamic space operations. About OE-I The Operational Energy - Innovation (OE-I) Directorate operates in collaboration with the Services and Combatant Commands and is structured to leverage - not replicate - the existing infrastructure and organization to develop joint and interoperable technologies. Each Agency's operational energy lead works collectively with the OECIF and OEPF programs to develop, select, and oversee investments and transitions. NRLis a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California. NRL offers several mechanisms for collaborating with the broader scientific community, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), LP-CRADAs, Educational Partnership Agreements, agreements under the authority of 10 USC 4892, licensing agreements, FAR contracts, and other applicable agreements.