Mantis Space Taps Defense Laser Guru for Orbital Power Grid

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – August 12, 2026 – In a move that underscores the growing convergence of defense-grade technology and commercial space ambition, startup Mantis Space today announced the appointment of Dale Parkes, a former Boeing Technical Fellow, as its new Chief Technology Officer. The hire is a strategic power play for the Albuquerque-based firm, which aims to build the first-ever dedicated power grid in orbit—a foundational piece of infrastructure that could fundamentally alter the economics of space operations.

Parkes, a 26-year veteran of Boeing and Hughes Space, brings a deep well of experience in high-energy laser systems, a domain previously dominated by national security interests. His appointment is being heralded by the company as a critical step in operationalizing its vision: a constellation of spacecraft that will capture solar energy and beam it via lasers to other satellites as they pass through Earth’s shadow. For institutional investors and market analysts watching the burgeoning space economy, this move signals that the market for in-orbit services is moving from theoretical concepts to tangible engineering challenges, with significant capital and talent now focused on solving them.

From Defense Lasers to Commercial Lifelines

Dale Parkes is not a typical startup CTO. His resume is filled with leadership roles on some of the United States' most advanced and complex defense programs. As Chief Engineer for the Missile Defense Agency's Low Power Laser Demonstrator and Fire Control Lead on the historic Airborne Laser (ABL) Program, Parkes has spent decades solving the very problems Mantis Space now faces: how to generate, control, and precisely direct high-energy laser beams over vast distances.

This transition from developing military-grade laser systems to creating a commercial power utility in space is a potent example of the ongoing technology transfer shaping the 'New Space' sector. The technical hurdles for Mantis Space are immense. The process of converting sunlight to electricity, then to laser light, beaming it accurately to a moving target hundreds or thousands of kilometers away, and converting it back to usable power is fraught with efficiency losses. Independent experts in laser physics note that every stage, from thermal management of high-power lasers in the vacuum of space to the precision of the beam-steering optics, represents a significant engineering challenge.

This is precisely where Parkes’ background becomes invaluable. His experience is expected to de-risk the company's ambitious technology roadmap. "We are delighted to welcome Dale to the team," said Eric Truitt, CEO of Mantis Space. "His choice to join Mantis after a distinguished career in some of the most challenging laser development programs in our nation's history is humbling, validating, and impactful for the company's mission."

By bringing on a leader who has successfully managed billion-dollar, government-grade laser programs, Mantis Space is sending a clear message to partners and investors: it is serious about moving beyond concepts and building operational hardware. Parkes will lead a team that already boasts engineering talent from organizations like Apple, Google, Lockheed Martin, and the James Webb Space Telescope project, creating a formidable brain trust to tackle the challenge.

Powering the New Space Economy

For Mantis Space and its backers—including Rule 1 Ventures, Montauk Capital, and Hicks Frontier Ventures—the mission is about more than just advanced technology. It's about creating a new, essential utility for the orbital economy. Currently, every satellite is a self-contained island, reliant on its own solar panels and batteries. This limits its operational capabilities, particularly for power-hungry payloads, and dictates its lifespan. A satellite is often retired not because its core components fail, but because its power system degrades or it runs out of propellant for station-keeping.

An orbital power grid could change this paradigm. By providing continuous power, even during orbital night, Mantis Space could enable satellite operators to run more powerful sensors, transmit more data, and extend the revenue-generating life of their assets. This service could prove indispensable for the massive LEO constellations planned and currently in orbit, as well as for future space stations, manufacturing outposts, and lunar habitats.

Truitt refers to this moment as the "'Edison Moment' of space infrastructure and its supercycle," positioning Mantis as a provider of the fundamental electricity that will power the next generation of space development. It's a bold claim, but one that has attracted serious talent and capital.

"The team showed me their strategy to build an entirely new layer of space infrastructure to change the orbital economy and open up the next generation for space development," Parkes stated in the announcement. "I'm excited to join the energetic and highly capable team to scale that infrastructure from the ground up."

Navigating the Final Frontier's Red Tape

While the technical and economic vision is compelling, Mantis Space faces a third, equally challenging frontier: the regulatory and geopolitical landscape. Transmitting high-energy laser beams across orbit raises complex questions of safety, liability, and international law that are far from settled.

Space policy experts note that any such system will require stringent international coordination to prevent accidental interference with other satellites, particularly sensitive astronomical observatories and crewed missions. Furthermore, the dual-use nature of high-energy laser technology is an unavoidable complication. A system capable of transmitting power is, in theory, not far removed from one that could be used to disrupt or disable another object in space. Navigating the Outer Space Treaty and assuaging international concerns about potential weaponization will be a critical task for the company as it moves toward deployment.

Issues like frequency allocation, while traditionally for radio waves, may see new precedents set for optical communication and power transmission. Moreover, the company’s constellation will need to adhere to increasingly strict guidelines on orbital debris mitigation to ensure the long-term sustainability of the space environment. For Mantis Space, securing the necessary licenses and establishing the trust of the international community will be as vital as perfecting its beam-control algorithms. The company's success will depend not only on its technological prowess but also on its ability to be a responsible steward of the orbital commons.