The test used the same optics and laser chain planned for space operations and showed that the system can send power via near-infrared light from an aircraft to a ground-based receiver under real-world conditions.
The company is developing satellites that will harvest continuous sunlight in geosynchronous orbit and beam it as low-intensity near-infrared light to large solar projects on the ground, allowing those facilities to supply electricity at night and operate as round-the-clock resources.
The selected wavelength builds on experience from fiber-optic networks, medical imaging, and security systems, and is intended to combine high conversion efficiency with passive safety features suited to utility-scale power delivery.
Overview plans to deploy satellite clusters capable of serving multiple continents and shifting power delivery in response to changing demand.
Existing and future utility-scale solar plants will act as the receiving infrastructure, forming a network that can reroute power rapidly to data centers, urban loads, and large military installations without requiring major changes to ground systems.
"Imagine sunlight collected 36,000 kilometers above Earth, then arriving as clean energy wherever the grid needs it," said Marc Berte, Founder and CEO of Overview Energy. "That's what we're making real. Our airborne milestone proved that the core transmission system works in motion - the same foundation that will operate in orbit. Space solar energy will only matter when it powers real demand on Earth, and we're designing for that scale from day one."
The airborne trial is described as the first high-power wireless energy transmission demonstration to operate in motion at this scale, bridging the gap between laboratory testing and future orbital operations.
In the lab, Overview previously validated its laser and optics system at power levels of thousands of watts, and the recent test confirmed that the combined lasers, optics, and control systems can maintain performance while the transmitter moves.
"Overview Energy is building a key pillar for our growing energy demand, one that can dynamically allocate energy where it is the most valuable and scale without the constraints of ground-based generation and transmission," said Reed Sturtevant, General Partner at Engine Ventures. "Their space solar energy approach isn't just technically ambitious; it's designed with real-world deployment in mind from the get-go. Engine Ventures backs companies like Overview where the founders bring technical depth and commercial discipline to build infrastructure that will have global impact."
During its stealth phase, the company worked to align its architecture with technical, safety, economic, and regulatory requirements for commercial deployment.
A low Earth orbit demonstration is scheduled for 2028 to prove end-to-end functionality from space, and Overview is targeting commercial operations in geosynchronous orbit by 2030, including what it describes as the first megawatt-scale power transmission from orbit to the ground.
Overview was founded in 2022 and is led by a team with experience in energy systems, high-power lasers, space missions, manufacturing, business development, and regulation.
Team members have previously launched satellite constellations, managed space programs, established manufacturing lines, and contributed to global space regulatory frameworks.
The company has raised $20 million so far, with investors including Engine Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Prime Movers Lab, EQT Foundation, Earthrise Ventures, Aurelia Institute, and other backers.
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