This margarita glass-shaped space setup is nicknamed, SPS-ALPHA
– which is short for Solar Power Satellite via Arbitrarily Large
PHased Array. It consists of a large array of thin-film mirrors
attached to the curved surface of a massive satellite. These
mirrors are moveable and will be used to redirect incoming
Sunlight towards the solar cells that are fixed on the backside
of the device. A collection of microwave power transmission
panels is placed on the Earth-side of the array, which enables
the transportation of the electricity generated by the solar
cells to earth in the form of radio waves. John Mankins, the
leader of the concept says: “The needed next steps are to
develop a working prototype of one or more of the modules and
demonstrate the assembled system in the field. Over the next
several years, the goal is to realize a low-Earth orbit flight
test of the system.” Image credit: JAXA Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) is aiming to launch their space-based
solar power prototype by 2020, with pl