Starpath bets on mass-produced, space-rated solar

Starpath has launched a new line of space-rated solar panels called “Starlight,” aiming to drastically reduce the cost of solar power for space applications. The company claims its panels are priced at roughly $10–11 per watt, about 90% cheaper than the current industry standard of $7–250 per watt. Two product tiers are available: an engineering model for prototyping at $9.81 per watt, shipping from October, and a flight-rated model for in-space use at $11.20 per watt, shipping in Q4 2025. Starpath attributes this steep cost reduction to its proprietary automated production line, which is expected to scale rapidly and produce more space-rated solar power than the rest of the world combined by next year, with significantly shorter lead times—initially three weeks, dropping to three days by December. The initiative stems from Starpath’s broader vision to enable economically viable power solutions for ambitious off-world projects, such as lunar bases and Mars cities, where