Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) saw its stock soar 160% after revealing a new collaboration with NASA aimed at advancing space-based beamed power technology using the company’s cutting-edge CIGS thin-film solar modules.
Under a newly signed 12-month Collaborative Agreement Notice (CAN), Ascent will partner with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center to explore energy transmission methods that could reduce the size and weight of power systems for spacecraft. The joint effort focuses on creating commercially viable solutions for distributing energy across space missions more efficiently and cost-effectively.
At the core of the project is the evaluation of Ascent’s photovoltaic modules to determine their efficiency in capturing energy from high-intensity directed light beams. These modules could theoretically harness power equivalent to dozens of Suns, allowing spacecraft to receive up to 10 times more energy on demand without changing the physical size of their solar arrays.
“This agreement with NASA validates our long-standing view that thin-film solar technology has a pivotal role to play in both harvesting solar energy and enabling beamed power capabilities in extreme space conditions,” said Ascent Solar CEO Paul Warley.
The initiative builds on NASA’s recent technological milestones, including the 2023 Psyche mission that achieved record-breaking laser communication across 19 million miles. NASA also previously tested Ascent’s commercial photovoltaic products in 2024, laying the groundwork for this new collaboration.
The project is particularly relevant to NASA’s lunar exploration efforts, such as the Artemis program and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions. The beamed power system could help sustain operations in dark or permanently shadowed lunar regions, which are believed to contain frozen water—an essential resource for future missions.
By integrating advanced photovoltaic technology with next-generation energy transmission, Ascent and NASA aim to unlock new capabilities for powering spacecraft, landers, and lunar infrastructure in the coming decade.