Space startups aim to test receiver for satellite-enabled lunar ‘power grid’

Space startups are developing innovative technologies to provide power for future lunar habitats, aiming to support NASA’s goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon. Canadian aerospace startup Volta Space Technologies is testing a wireless power receiver called LightPort, which will be flown aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander scheduled to land near the Moon’s south pole by the end of 2026. The LightPort receiver is designed to capture solar power transmitted via lasers from orbiting satellites, enabling continuous power supply even during the Moon’s long, frigid nights that last about 14 Earth days. This mission marks a significant step in validating Volta’s LightGrid system, which integrates LightPort receivers into lunar landers, rovers, and infrastructure to create a satellite-enabled “power grid” on the Moon. Volta has already demonstrated energy transmission over distances up to 850 meters in lab and field tests. If successful, this technology could illuminate and power the lunar far side and support sustained human activity.