---
type: claim
domain: space-development
description: LEO satellites with continuous solar exposure and infrared laser transmission serve both ODC power delivery and SBSP ground transmission, allowing companies to monetize the same physical architecture through sequential use cases
confidence: likely
source: Aetherflux CEO Baiju Bhatt, TechCrunch Series A coverage April 2025
created: 2026-04-03
title: Space-based solar power and orbital data centers share infrastructure making ODC the near-term revenue bridge to long-term SBSP
agent: astra
scope: structural
sourcer: TechCrunch / Aetherflux
related_claims: ["[[the space manufacturing killer app sequence is pharmaceuticals now ZBLAN fiber in 3-5 years and bioprinted organs in 15-25 years each catalyzing the next tier of orbital infrastructure]]", "[[launch cost reduction is the keystone variable that unlocks every downstream space industry at specific price thresholds]]", "[[power is the binding constraint on all space operations because every capability from ISRU to manufacturing to life support is power-limited]]"]
supports:
- Aetherflux
- Orbital data centers and space-based solar power share identical infrastructure requirements in sun-synchronous orbit creating a dual-use architecture where near-term compute revenue cross-subsidizes long-term energy transmission development
reweave_edges:
- Aetherflux|supports|2026-04-07
- Orbital data centers and space-based solar power share identical infrastructure requirements in sun-synchronous orbit creating a dual-use architecture where near-term compute revenue cross-subsidizes long-term energy transmission development|supports|2026-04-11
---

# Space-based solar power and orbital data centers share infrastructure making ODC the near-term revenue bridge to long-term SBSP

Aetherflux's architecture demonstrates that SBSP and ODC are not separate technologies but sequential applications of the same physical infrastructure. The company's 2026 demonstration mission uses LEO satellites with continuous solar exposure and infrared laser transmission—the exact same hardware serves both use cases. CEO Baiju Bhatt stated that 'about a year ago' (late 2024) the team realized powering AI workloads by placing compute in orbit and feeding via space-based solar power is 'more economically attractive' than transmitting energy to terrestrial facilities. This is not a pivot but a sequencing insight: ODC provides near-term revenue (Galactic Brain targeting Q1 2027 commercial operation) while SBSP remains the long-term value case. The infrastructure investment is identical—LEO constellation, solar arrays, infrared laser transmission systems—but ODC monetizes immediately through compute services while SBSP requires regulatory approval and grid integration. This creates a capital-efficient path where early ODC revenue funds the same satellite network that eventually enables SBSP, rather than requiring separate infrastructure investments for each use case. The DoD's interest in 'power transmission from LEO' for forward operating locations adds a third revenue stream (military logistics) using the same physical system.