Ask Starpath CEO Saurav Shroff his thoughts on America's space priorities and he'll say we're "one order of magnitude high on cost and one order of magnitude low on ambition." Starpath's answer, at least to part of the problem, is ultra-low cost space power, which is generated by solar panels. Starpath's new space-rated solar panel business kicked off sales in the U.S. on September 25 with an eyebrow-raising pitch. The company says its solar panels, called "Starlight," are priced around 10 times cheaper than typical industry pricing of $7-250 per watt, roughly a 90% cost reduction versus the status quo.
Openness to foreign talent could be a competitive advantage for up-and-coming tech hubs around the world, particularly as the U.S.-traditionally the world's leading tech sector-begins to look more skeptically at immigration. The Trump administration is tightening visa policies, leading to delays for those trying to enter the U.S. And moves like the White House's campaign against leading universities may be discouraging international students from pursuing education in the U.S.