EMCORE Corporation recently announced it was awarded a solar panel manufacturing contract by ATK to utilize ZTJ solar cells with ATK Ultraflex solar arrays.

The solar panels will use technology from both companies and power cargo delivery spacecraft for Orbital Sciences Corporation's Commercial Resupply Services missions to the International Space Station.

"Coupling EMCORE's heritage of providing highly efficient and reliable photovoltaics with ATK's lightweight Ultraflex solar array design will result in a winning solution to produce the most advanced and reliable power to ensure Orbital's Cygnus spacecraft is the long-term solution for the automated transport of goods to the International Space Station for many years to come," said Dave Messner, general manager of ATK's solar arrays and deployables business.

While these solar panels will help with space exploration, the Daily Mail reported that orbiting power plants could use the sun's energy to power the world from outer space.

The news source said orbiting power plants could beam solar energy down to Earth, which could prove to be a cost-effective method of power generation.