The contract
SpaceX announced on 11 November a supply contract with Germany's SINGULUS, which specializes in solar cell equipment. The contract is not for the purchase of ready-made cells but for complete lines for heterojunction (HJT) technology, with which Elon Musk's company intends to accelerate production of the Starmind satellites. SpaceX's announcement cites a first line to be delivered in the first half of 2027 and the intention to add further facilities later. SINGULUS in turn issued an announcement the previous day.
What changes for Starmind
Starmind is the project for artificial intelligence computing satellites in orbit: the devices would be solar-powered, perform processing in space and transmit the results to Earth via laser links and the Starlink network. The first public model is called AI1. The agreement concerns the upstream production chain, that is, the capacity to make the cells needed for the satellites at the Texas facility, according to statements by Starlink Vice President Mike Nichols.
HJT technology combines a crystalline silicon wafer with thin layers of amorphous silicon: the heterostructure reduces losses and improves current extraction. SINGULUS will provide wet chemical processes, vacuum deposition and thermal treatments, developing equipment for high-performance cells based on techniques already used on an industrial scale.
The figure to read carefully
The two parties indicate that, with the acceleration of satellite production, the facilities will be progressively expanded until they can support a scale of more than 100 GW. The source clarifies that this refers to the production capacity of the solar cell equipment, not to an energy plant built in space. The comparison with about 4.4 Chinese hydroelectric power stations, calculated on installed capacity, serves only to give an idea of the order of magnitude.
Actual timelines, the number of additional lines, investments and production volumes therefore remain to be verified. The material reports no financial values, nor details on cell testing or satellite performance. The 2027 delivery date is also a contractual target, not a confirmation of production start.
