Future space exploration missions may depend on massive solar arrays to provide limitless energy. The problem is, while the cost of solar cells has been declining, they remain expensive. Illinois-based MicroLink has developed flexible cells that can be mass-produced at a fraction of the cost of existing technology.
Read MoreIt really wasn’t that long ago when the two greatest superpowers were vying to put satellites into space. Now, 50 nations have their own satellites in low Earth orbit. If you’re a Thailand, say, you can call Space Systems/Loral, a Canadian-owned company based in Palo Alto, California, and tell them you want to put a satellite into geostationary orbit for television broadcasting or military communications. You can have the thing in orbit 25,000 miles above Earth within two years.
