Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) saw its stock jump 18% after announcing the official start of its collaboration with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).
Backed by support from NASA’s Glenn Research Center, this partnership aims to advance spacecraft technology capable of receiving beamed power through Ascent’s CIGS thin-film photovoltaic modules. This innovation enables energy transmission from satellites or orbiting vehicles to spacecraft via microwave or laser beams, potentially allowing missions to extend their range with lighter equipment and reduced costs.
Earlier this year, NASA MSFC completed successful bench testing that demonstrated beamed power reception using Ascent’s existing commercial products. Under the terms of the Collaborative Agreement Notice (CAN), Ascent will focus on design and prototype development, while NASA provides technical support and testing over the course of the 12-month project.
Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, said, “This collaboration with NASA further bolsters our longstanding belief that the unique capabilities of thin-film solar technology will play an integral role in overcoming the challenges of reliably converting solar energy and also receive beamed power in a breadth of harsh space environments.”
The effort will assess the performance of Ascent’s CIGS modules when exposed to high-intensity light beams, which could enable spacecraft to harvest energy equivalent to that from tens of suns, reducing the mass and size of power systems onboard.
Ascent projects that its technology could cut tens of millions in costs per lander mission by minimizing the need to transport heavy power generation hardware. With the solar power market for space applications expected to grow into the multi-billion-dollar range by 2030, this partnership positions Ascent to capitalize on the rising demand for sustainable space energy solutions.