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Published: Nov. 8, 2019, 7:45 p.m.

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Solar energy is the ideal way to power a spacecraft. There\\u2019s no weather, there\\u2019s no pesky atmosphere, just pure photons streaming from the Sun to harvest for whatever you need. Well, as long as you\\u2019re within the inner Solar System.

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But solar panels are complicated and fragile made of sensitive electronics and glass - not to mention, really heavy. Any spacecraft equipped with solar panels needs to handle the gravity down here on Earth for the construction and testing, then the shaking and high Gs of launch. The solar panels need to unfold perfectly once they get to space. And the total amount of energy you can harvest is limited by the size of your rocket\\u2019s launch fairing.

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Maybe there\\u2019s a new strategy. NASA is currently funding research into a new type of solar panel that can be carried into space as a liquid and then sprayed onto a surface to turn it into a power generating surface.

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Our Book is out!
\\nhttps://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/

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Audio Podcast version:
\\nITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2
\\nRSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

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What Fraser\'s Watching Playlist:
\\nhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJ42wpShvmkjd428BcHcCEVWOjv7cJ1G

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Weekly email newsletter:
\\nhttps://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

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Weekly Space Hangout:
\\nhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/

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Astronomy Cast:
\\nhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK--MdCSg

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Support us at https://www.patreon.com/universetoday
\\nMore stories at https://www.universetoday.com/
\\nTwitch: https://twitch.tv/fcain
\\nFollow us on Twitter: @universetoday
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Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / frasercain@gmail.com
\\nKarla Thompson - @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw
\\nChad Weber - weber.chad@gmail.com

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References:
\\nhttps://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-funds-demo-of-3d-printed-spacecraft-parts-made-assembled-in-orbit
\\nhttp://news.mit.edu/2019/robots-large-structures-little-pieces-1016
\\nhttps://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/
\\nhttps://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2016/03/kind-solar-panels-nasa-use/
\\nhttps://scitechdaily.com/important-breakthrough-in-perovskite-solar-cells/
\\nhttps://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2019/uc-merced-reaches-stars-solar-cells
\\nhttps://www.nasa.gov/feature/glenn/2019/building-solar-panels-in-space-might-be-as-easy-as-clicking-print
\\nhttps://www1.grc.nasa.gov/facilities/eppl/#vacuum-facility-6-vf6-

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