Starpath: Mass-Produced, Space-Rated Solar Panels

Starpath Challenges Space Power Costs and Ambition

According to Starpath CEO Saurav Shroff, current American space priorities are significantly hampered by excessive costs and a lack of sufficient ambition – being “one order of magnitude high on cost and one order of magnitude low on ambition.”

Ultra-Low-Cost Space Power via Solar Technology

Starpath proposes a solution to at least a portion of this issue: the provision of ultra-low-cost space power, primarily generated through the utilization of solar panels.

On September 25th, Starpath initiated sales of its newly developed space-rated solar panel line within the U.S., presenting a notably competitive pricing structure.

Starlight Solar Panels: A 90% Cost Reduction

The company asserts that its “Starlight” solar panels are priced approximately ten times lower than prevailing industry standards, which typically range from $75 to $250 per watt. This represents a substantial 90% reduction in cost compared to existing options.

Product Tiers: Engineering and Flight Models

At launch, two distinct product tiers will be available: an “engineering model” and a “flight model.”

• Engineering Model: Priced at $9.81 per watt, shipping commences in the second week of October. This model undergoes a simplified testing procedure and is ideal for prototyping, laboratory applications, and pre-launch satellite construction.
• Flight Model: Designed for actual in-space deployment, this model is offered at $11.20 per watt and is scheduled for shipment in the fourth quarter of the current year.

Automated Production Drives Down Costs

The significant cost reduction is partially attributed to Starpath’s investment in and construction of its own fully automated production line.

Details of this production process are largely confidential, but it is engineered to substantially increase production capacity.

Future Production Capacity

Starpath anticipates that its production line will be capable of producing more space-rated solar power than the rest of the world combined by next year.

This would provide sufficient capacity to meet the demands of every satellite currently being manufactured globally.

Benefits for the Entire Space Industry

“It’s a win for humanity if our solar panels are available commercially for the entire space industry at a price that is 90% cheaper than what you can get today,” Shroff stated.

Panels will be maintained in stock rather than being built to order.

Initial shipping times are projected to be as short as three weeks, decreasing to just three days starting in December.

This is a considerable improvement over the current industry lead times of five to fourteen months, according to Starpath.

Terraforming as the Core Ambition

The new product line originated from Starpath’s overarching goal: to terraform the solar system, beginning with the Moon and Mars.

When evaluating the power requirements for a substantial lunar base, “the current solar solutions were not economically viable,” Shroff explained.

“You’d literally be looking at spending more than the GDP of the entire world on solar power” to implement today’s satellite supply chain economics.

Economic Viability for Large-Scale Projects

While current economics “sort of kind of work for the satellite industry,” Shroff emphasized that they are insufficient for ambitious projects like establishing a city on Mars.

This realization prompted Starpath to develop its own proprietary product and manufacturing process.

The reduced pricing means that “for a multimillion-dollar satellite … it will only cost you $100,000 to get the power system.”

Rapid Scalability of Production

Starpath’s roadmap is characterized by aggressive scaling plans.

The underlying production system is designed for rapid expansion, potentially reaching upwards of 40 megawatts if demand necessitates it.

Applications in Low Earth Orbit

Shroff indicated that several companies are exploring applications for low Earth orbit that require substantial power resources, without disclosing specific names.

Monetizing a Core Capability

Shroff argues that selling solar panels does not detract from Starpath’s primary mission.

Instead, it allows the company to monetize a capability that was developed internally for its own purposes.

Starpath anticipates consuming approximately 98% of its own output, utilizing the majority of its panels for its off-world infrastructure projects.

A Call for Greater Ambition

“We think that people should dream bigger,” Shroff concluded.

“Everybody should take a careful look, particularly NASA, at their goals, and ask themselves if they’re dreaming big enough.”

This story has been updated to reflect that the system could scale to 40 megawatts.