Space Solar Enters NATO Accelerator With Energy Sovereignty In Mind
On 13 April 2026, Space Solar joined NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Challenge Programme. The move marks a clear step for the defense landscape, as space infrastructure becomes more central to security, energy resilience, and future operations. The programme aims to identify and accelerate dual‑use technologies that address key defense challenges across NATO members. For Space Solar, this is a formal validation of the company’s current work and a chance to advance its plans for space-based power and large, modular space structures.
From the perspective of space operations, the programme supports a technology path focused on building resilient systems in orbit. Space Solar emphasizes autonomous in‑space assembly and repair of large modular architectures through its OSPREY Builder capability. This approach would let space infrastructure evolve over time, with damaged parts replaced or upgraded on site. The goal is to maintain freedom of maneuver and protect essential orbital assets as space becomes a more contested environment. DIANA’s resources, including funding, testing facilities, and mentorship, will help refine these capabilities for priority defence uses.
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Space Solar as a space-side provider
Power emerges as a critical enabler for space activities. As launch constraints ease, the demand for reliable energy in space grows, driven by needs such as AI processing, autonomous robotic platforms, and distributed sensing networks. Space Solar proposes a scalable power layer created by harvesting sunlight with large, lightweight solar arrays. This energy can support high‑power systems like advanced radar, orbital computing, and in‑space manufacturing. An important part of the concept is the ability to transmit energy wirelessly to where it is needed on the ground, potentially ensuring continuous power regardless of weather or location.
OSPREY Builder stands for autonomous construction in orbit. It allows modular components launched from Earth to be assembled in space, enabling structures far larger than any single rocket could carry. By removing the size limits of launch vehicles, this technology could enable kilowatt to gigawatt scales of power and substantially larger communication and sensing systems in space.
Looking ahead, Space Solar will collaborate with DIANA and with DualTech by Takeoff in Turin to validate autonomous assembly designs and explore applications across defence and dual‑use markets. The aim is to advance large‑scale space infrastructure and reliable orbital energy to support NATO and allied security objectives.
James Hydzik is a technology geek focused on the junction of engineering, writing, and coffee. He joined Orbital Today in 2020 to help make sense of the Johnson government’s decision to buy OneWeb. Since then, he has taken on interviewing and editor-in-chief roles. James learned the ropes of editing and writing with Financial Times magazines, The World Bank, PwC, and Ericsson. Thus far, interviewing New Space movers has put the biggest smile on his workaday face. The son of an Electrical Engineer, James understands the value of putting complex topics into clear language for those with a lay person’s understanding of the subject. James is a European transplant from the United States, and as ex-KA3LLL, he now holds European amateur radio licenses. His next radio project is a portable 10GHz EME (moonbounce) station, as it combines his childhood interests in antennas and space.
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