Aetherflux, the space-based solar power company founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has appointed veteran technology lawyer Joe Yaffe as its Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer. The move comes as the company accelerates its plans following a $90 million Series A round and prepares for its first major orbital launch in 2027.
In his dual role, Yaffe will oversee Aetherflux’s global operations while also leading its legal and regulatory strategy — a critical combination as the company works at the intersection of space, energy, and advanced computing infrastructure.
Yaffe joins Aetherflux from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he most recently served as Managing Partner of the firm’s Palo Alto office. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he advised high-growth technology companies, founders, and boards on governance, complex transactions, and compensation structures. His shift from legal advisor to executive operator reflects Aetherflux’s transition from concept to execution.
“Aetherflux is addressing two of the most difficult challenges of our time — energy abundance and the infrastructure required for next-generation compute,” said Bhatt. He added that Yaffe’s mix of operational discipline and strategic judgment will be key as the company enters its next phase.
Aetherflux is positioning itself around space-based solar power as an alternative path to meeting the rapidly growing energy demands of artificial intelligence. Its flagship initiative, known as “Galactic Brain,” is designed as an orbital data center powered by solar energy harvested in space — bypassing the long timelines and energy constraints associated with building data centers on Earth.
The company is targeting the first launch of the Galactic Brain project in Q1 2027. Ahead of that, Aetherflux plans to deploy an initial satellite in 2026 capable of wirelessly transmitting energy from low Earth orbit to Earth using laser technology. The approach builds on earlier work focused on delivering resilient power to remote and contested environments.
For Yaffe, the role represents an opportunity to help shape a new category of infrastructure. He said the company’s mission sits at the intersection of energy security and the accelerating global race in AI, and that building a strong operational and regulatory foundation will be essential to turning that vision into reality.
Founded in 2024 and backed by investors including Index Ventures and NEA, Aetherflux is betting that space-based solar power can unlock scalable, resilient energy for both terrestrial and orbital computing systems — an ambition that places it squarely at the frontier of energy and enterprise technology.