Northrop Sponsors Space Solar Power Research at Caltech; Joseph Ensor Comments

Northrop Grumman has agreed to invest $17.5 million into a three-year space solar power research program the company initiated with California Institute of Technology.

The initiative is meant to produce technologies applicable to the ultralight photovoltaics, ultralight deployable space structures and phased array and power transmission areas, Northrop said Monday.

“The potential breakthroughs from this research could have extensive applications across a number of related power use challenges,” said Joseph Ensor, vice president and general manager of space intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems at Northrop Grumman.

Harry Atwater Jr., Ali Hajimiri and Sergio Pellegrino – professors from Caltech – along with their team of students, postdoctoral scholars and senior researchers will work with Northrop engineers and scientists to develop prototypes and validate concepts toward implementing the program.

Atwater, Hajimiri and Pellegrino are the principal investigators and leaders of the initiative.