Aetherflux, the space solar startup founded by Baiju Bhatt, the billionaire co-founder of Robinhood, has secured$50 million in Series A funding to advance its first low Earth orbit demonstration scheduled for 2026.

The California-based startup, which emerged from stealth in October, plans to deploy a constellation of satellites capable of collecting solar energy and transmitting it to Earth.

The concept, inspired by Isaac Asimov's 1941 short story 'Reason,' is set to change the way power is sourced globally. Bhatt is dedicated to transforming this science fiction-inspired idea into reality.

With the newly raised capital, Aetherflux aims to hire more engineers and build the technology needed for its missions. The company will use the funds to develop its satellite payload and improve infrastructure.

The satellites will send power back to Earth via lasers, with energy captured by ground stations featuring photovoltaic arrays. These stations will store energy for future use and may one day deliver electricity to remote areas.

Bhatt's team, consisting of experts from NASA, SpaceX, and the US Navy, is also focused on building the first ground station. While a location hasn't been chosen, military sites are being considered for their controlled airspace.

If successful, Aetherflux will pave the way for scalable space-based solar power systems.