Equipment tested in space for space-based solar power [View all]

[bananas]

This story is on a lot of news sites, the Daily Mail seems to be the one that had the story first.
I'm not exactly sure what was tested, but it apparently was successful, and they're continuing on with the next step.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2145149/Solar-satellites-offer-hope-green-energy-actually-WORK.html

'Beams' from space that could power cities: First tests on solar satellites offer hope of green energy that might actually WORK

- Floating solar panels 'beam' energy to Earth using lasers or microwaves
- Equipment tested in space to deploy 'swarm' of solar panels
- Initially will supply power to disaster areas or outlying regions
- Eventually 'swarm' of tiny satellites could power cities

By Rob Waugh

PUBLISHED: 04:01 EST, 16 May 2012 | UPDATED: 04:23 EST, 16 May 2012

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Researchers at Stratchclyde University have already tested equipment in space, a first step for solar panels to collect energy and transfer it back to earth through microwaves or lasers.

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Last month, a team of science and engineering students at Strathclyde developed an innovative ‘space web’ experiment which was carried on a rocket from the Arctic Circle to the edge of space.

The experiment, known as Suaineadh – or ‘twisting’ in Scots Gaelic, was an important step forward in space construction design and demonstrated that larger structures could be built on top of a light-weight spinning web, paving the way for the next stage in the solar power project.

Dr Vasile added: ‘The success of Suaineadh allows us to move forward with the next stage of our project which involves looking at the reflectors needed to collect the solar power.

‘The current project, called SAM (Self-inflating Adaptable Membrane) will test the deployment of an ultra light cellular structure that can change shape once deployed. The structure is made of cells that are self-inflating in vacuum and can change their volume independently through nanopumps.

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BBC has a 5 minute news video which goes into more detail:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18080883

16 May 2012 Last updated at 02:54 ET
Sticking solar power station where the Sun shines
By Kenneth Macdonald
BBC Scotland Special Correspondent

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It was designed to test an idea from Japan: a lightweight, spinning net which could form the foundation for a solar satellite.

Its four cameras sent back just over two minutes of intriguing images. The final two frames show tantalising hints that the space net did deploy.

But then the parachute didn't open. One of our space shots is missing.

The experiment fell into deep snow in the far north of Sweden - and the possibility of a soft landing has the Strathclyde team hoping even more data can be recovered.

That's why Thomas Sinn and colleagues will be setting off in August on a recovery mission. And as funding for that sort of thing is tight they're attempting to crowdsource it on the Web.

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