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Lockheed Martin invests in mPower Technology to boost space solar power

The Lockheed Martin contribution raises the total Series B funding to over $24m.

mPower Technology, a leader in flexible solar solutions for space applications, has announced a strategic investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures, the venture arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The investment expands mPower’s recently closed Series B funding round, bringing the total raised to more than $24m.

The new capital will accelerate production of mPower’s DragonSCALES solar modules, which offer a resilient, lightweight and cost-effective alternative to traditional solar technologies. Designed for flexibility and scalability, DragonSCALES enables innovative spacecraft configurations and more efficient solar power generation for a wide range of space missions.

Kevin Hell, president and CEO of mPower Technology, said: “We are honored to welcome Lockheed Martin Ventures as a strategic investor. Lockheed Martin brings deep mission expertise and a bold vision for the future of space and national defense. Their support is a validation of our role in enabling rapid, scalable, and cost-effective solar power across the new space economy and in support of US security priorities.”

Lockheed Martin Ventures joins a roster of investors focused on space resilience and national security, including Razor’s Edge Ventures and Shield Capital.

Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, added: “Space has never been more important to national security, and affordable, reliable power is a mission-critical enabler for future space operations. The technology in development by mPower solves some of the hard challenges in unique and innovative ways—opening new doors for spacecraft design, power production, and scalability. We’re excited to support their continued growth and development as we advance U.S. leadership in space exploration.”

DragonSCALES has already been integrated into several major programs. Airbus Netherlands selected the technology for its Sparkwing solar arrays, which will power MDA’s AURORA satellites serving low-Earth orbit constellations, including Telesat Lightspeed and the Apple-backed next-generation Globalstar network. Large-scale production is now underway at mPower’s automated manufacturing facility at Universal Instruments Corporation in Conklin, New York, which is capable of producing more than two megawatts of DragonSCALES annually—surpassing the combined output of legacy gallium arsenide solar suppliers worldwide.

With more than 12 years of on-orbit experience, mPower has established itself as a trusted partner to leading aerospace companies including Airbus, Blue Origin/Honeybee, Firefly Aerospace, Lynk Global, and Gravitics.