A Turin-based space startup backed by Politecnico di Torino is preparing to test a groundbreaking technology that could redefine how satellites receive power in orbit — and it plans to bring dozens of skilled jobs to Italy's aerospace hub in the process.
ORiS (Orbital Recharge in Space), an Italian deep-tech firm specializing in wireless energy transmission via laser, has secured €5 M in new capital to accelerate development of what it calls "Power-as-a-Service" for space operators. The financing — comprising a €4.5 M pre-seed round and €500,000 from the Piemonte Regional government — will fund the company's first in-orbit demonstration mission in February 2027 aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Why This Matters
• First orbital test of laser-powered satellite recharging set for early 2027, validating a technology that could extend mission lifetimes and reduce satellite costs.
• All new hires will be based in Turin, reinforcing the city's position as Italy's leading space engineering center.
• Moon mission applications by 2030: ORiS is already collaborating with Thales Alenia Space on feasibility studies for powering lunar rovers wirelessly.
The Technology Behind Orbital Recharging
ORiS's system works by converting sunlight captured by one satellite into a concentrated laser beam, which is then transmitted across the vacuum of space to another spacecraft. The receiving satellite uses standard photovoltaic cells — the same technology already aboard most spacecraft — to convert the laser light back into electricity, without requiring specialized hardware modifications.
The company's CEO, Andrea Villa, describes the challenge in practical terms: "We need to prove our technologies meet the performance standards the market demands, and then transform a working prototype into a reliable commercial product."
The 2027 test mission, dubbed ARAQYS-D3, will be conducted in partnership with German space firm Dcubed and will demonstrate wireless power transfer over a distance of roughly 10 meters between two satellites. The spacecraft platform is being supplied by Astro Digital, with ORiS aiming to deliver the flight-ready hardware by the end of July this year.
Building a Space Power Grid
ORiS's long-term vision goes well beyond isolated demonstrations. The company plans to deploy a constellation of hundreds of satellites capable of distributing energy on demand to any spacecraft operator willing to pay for the service. Think of it as a fuel station network in orbit, except instead of physical docking, power is beamed wirelessly across space.
"We want to make energy a commodity in orbit, available when needed to any satellite operator," Villa explained. Initially, the service will cater to a limited number of anchor customers, with expansion planned as the constellation scales up.
The concept addresses a fundamental constraint in satellite operations: power availability. Most satellites rely solely on their onboard solar panels and batteries, which limits mission flexibility, especially during eclipse periods or for high-power activities like imaging, communications relays, or orbit adjustments. A reliable external power source could extend mission durations, reduce the need for oversized solar arrays, and enable more dynamic orbital maneuvers.
Italy's Space Talent Magnet
The €5 M injection will primarily fund talent acquisition in Turin, where ORiS is headquartered within I3P, the Politecnico di Torino's incubator, and is also part of the ESA BIC Turin program supported by the European Space Agency.
Villa calls Turin "one of the most important hubs in Italy's space sector," and the company is actively recruiting aerospace engineers, researchers, business developers, and other specialized roles. "To attract the best talent, you need an international vision, a dynamic environment, and growth opportunities," he said.
Turin has long been a center of Italy's aerospace industry, home to Thales Alenia Space's Italian headquarters and a dense ecosystem of suppliers, research labs, and engineering talent. ORiS's expansion reinforces the city's role as a European space innovation cluster, particularly in advanced propulsion, satellite systems, and now, orbital energy infrastructure.
Lunar Ambitions and Thales Partnership
Beyond Earth orbit, ORiS is eyeing the Moon as a near-term application. The company has initiated a feasibility study with Thales Alenia Space to explore wireless energy transmission to rovers and surface infrastructure during future lunar missions.
Traditional lunar operations face a brutal challenge: the lunar night lasts roughly 14 Earth days, during which solar panels are useless and battery reserves are quickly depleted. Many missions have failed or gone dormant due to this power gap. A space-based laser system orbiting the Moon could provide continuous power to surface assets, enabling round-the-clock operations and extending mission lifespans dramatically.
"We're confident that by 2030, our lasers will be ready to support missions on the Moon," Villa stated.
Competitive Landscape
ORiS is entering a crowded but nascent field. At least 10 international competitors are developing similar technologies, predominantly in the United States. These include Volta Space Technologies, Aphelia Space, PowerIn Space, Exlumina, and Aetherflux, all pursuing laser or microwave-based orbital power transmission.
Notably, Caltech's Space Solar Power Project successfully demonstrated wireless energy transmission in space and detectable energy transfer to Earth in recent years. Meanwhile, PowerLight is collaborating with NASA on lunar power concepts, and Celestia Energy in the United Arab Emirates is building laser transmission platforms for Earth, orbital, and lunar applications.
In Europe, Airbus is exploring space solar power concepts at a broader scale, while Space Power in the United Kingdom is developing commercial laser transmission for space applications. Italy also has a domestic competitor, SunCubes, which focuses on modular solar satellites with laser energy links.
Technical Risks and Engineering Challenges
While the promise is immense, the technology faces significant hurdles. Laser beam precision is critical: maintaining a focused, stable beam over distances that can stretch to kilometers requires advanced pointing and tracking systems. Any misalignment disperses energy or risks unintended exposure.
Conversion efficiency is another bottleneck. Energy must be converted from sunlight to electricity, then to laser light, transmitted across space, and converted back to electricity. Each step introduces losses, and the overall system must remain economically viable compared to simply adding more solar panels to a satellite.
Safety is paramount. High-power laser beams, if misdirected, pose risks to other spacecraft, astronauts, and even ground infrastructure. ORiS and its competitors are developing fail-safe shutdown mechanisms triggered by low-power sentinel beams that detect interruptions or obstructions.
Finally, operating in the harsh space environment — with radiation, temperature extremes, and micrometeorite impacts — demands robust, autonomous systems capable of years-long operation without hands-on maintenance.
What This Means for Italy's Space Sector
For Italy, ORiS represents a strategic bet on high-value space infrastructure rather than just satellite manufacturing or launch services. The company's focus on laser-based power transmission positions Italian engineering at the frontier of an emerging market that could be worth billions as satellite constellations proliferate and lunar exploration accelerates.
The Piemonte Regional government's €500,000 contribution signals local recognition of the sector's importance, not just for prestige but for economic diversification and skilled employment. Each engineer, physicist, or systems architect hired in Turin represents a retention of high-wage talent that might otherwise migrate to Munich, Paris, or California.
With the first orbital test just months away and lunar missions on the horizon by decade's end, ORiS is positioning Italy as a credible player in the next generation of space infrastructure — where energy, not just data, flows wirelessly across the cosmos.
