Sharp's made no secret of its interest in solar cell technology, but finally they've shown off the fruit of their efforts, the first solar cell capable of surviving in space.

As they're actually flexible, they'll be perfect for covering satellites and other space-bound objects, and are even able to be folded around tight corners. Measuring 20 microns in thickness, Sharp's prototype was created by combining indium gallium crystals, gallium arsenide and indium gallium arsenide, growing them on solid substrate molecules before adding them to film. Sharp's hoping to manufacture them before 2012, for space shuttles and the like to generate energy from way up above us. [Nikkei via CrunchGear]