Arinna, a newly developed startup founded by Stanford PhDs Koosha Nazif and Alex Shearer, is on a mission to revolutionise solar energy for space applications. With a recent seed funding of $4 million, led by Spacecadet Ventures, the company aims to produce ultrathin solar panels made from innovative materials discovered during their doctoral studies.
The venture’s namesake, which references Arinna, the Hittite sun god, reflects its ambitious vision. Arinna plans to have its first solar panels tested in orbit by the end of this year, laying the groundwork for future mass production capabilities, targeting megawatt scale output by 2028. This breakthrough project comes at a time when the demand for advanced power sources in space has risen sharply, driven by both national interests and the private space sector.
Arinna’s solar cells are specifically designed for spacecraft, representing a significant evolution from traditionally expensive and bulky solar panels built from rare-earth elements. Previous technologies have relied on more affordable silicon-based panels, but these have a shorter lifespan due to degradation from cosmic radiation. In contrast, Arinna is leveraging transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)—a class of atomically thin semiconductors that are cost-effective and durable.
With the expectation that their technology offers 32% greater efficiency and a lifespan of up to 15 years in orbit, Arinna claims its photovoltaic cells will be lighter, more flexible, and devoid of the protective coverings typically required by existing panels. This innovation is seen as essential in overcoming existing power limitations faced by spacecraft.
Shearer, the CTO, emphasises the need for rigorous testing to ensure their solar panels can withstand the demands of space. Arinna’s strategy includes creating qualification panels to demonstrate their performance metrics to prospective customers, all while refining their production processes for scalable manufacturing.
Experts like Ben Gaddy from Breakthrough Energy have noted that Arinna’s approach to developing solar technology marks a departure from incremental advancements in existing solar tech—this venture focuses on fundamentally different materials.
As Arinna navigates its initial launch pad of testing and potential mass production, its contributions could significantly influence the future of power solutions in space. Industry partners have expressed confidence that Arinna will unlock critical energy resources needed for the next generation of exploratory missions, with Spacecadet Ventures’ Wiz Khuzai highlighting the bottleneck that power represents for space progress.
Should Arinna successfully complete its testing and scale its production capabilities, it could herald substantial advances in how energy is harnessed and utilised in space exploration, further solidifying its role in the evolving landscape of aerospace technology.
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