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SWAP — size, weight, and power — is a defining feature of space engineering constraints. As new technologies and designs have opened up options for size and weight, power is still a limiting constraint.
Longtime space executive Andrew Rush turned his attention to the issue of power in space with Star Catcher, the company he co-founded in 2024. Star Catcher has the bold ambition to break the constraints of power in space by deploying satellites that can function as a power grid in orbit and beam power to client satellites, on demand.
Andrew joined the On Orbit podcast just ahead of Star Catcher's Series A funding announcement. As former CEO of Made in Space and Redwire's first COO, Andrew has had a front row seat to the evolution of commercial space, and considers himself a student of the sector. That experience and hearing from industry colleagues informed the design and business model of Star Catcher.
In this episode, Andrew talks about why he sees power as a fundamental infrastructure need in space, similar to transportation and telecommunications, and how plans for the generation of infrastructure compares to the changes he's seen so far.
