# Origami-Inspired Solar Panels NASA Designs Panels That Could More Easily be Sent into Space By Jamie Danielle Munro | Published 2014-08-16 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nasa References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/technology/origami-solar-panels-nasa-08-15-2014/) & [nasa.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/) [NASA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-panel-origami-technology) is in the process of designing solar panels that can more easily be shot into space, and therefore send more energy back to earth. Since it is quite cumbersome to send solar panels away from earth in their current form, the engineers and scientists at NASA in collaboration with Brigham University are using origami as a source of inspiration for innovation. This origami method allows the solar panels to be folded without ruining any parts, and therefore make it much more transportable. The cost would be less since it would not require as many launches, and the efficiency of the entire process would also improve. Considering how important energy is for sustaining life on earth, this would be a huge leap forward. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/technology/origami-solar-panels-nasa-08-15-2014/), [nasa.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Origami-inspired Solar Panels:** Origami-inspired solar panels offer a disruptive innovation opportunity for the renewable energy industry by improving transportability and efficiency. - **Space-based Energy Transmission:** Space-based energy transmission presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the telecommunications industry by enabling more efficient and cost-effective power supply to earth. - **Foldable Technology:** Foldable technology presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for various industries, including aerospace and consumer electronics, by improving portability and reducing manufacturing costs. ### Where This Applies - **Renewable Energy:** The renewable energy industry can capitalize on origami-inspired solar panels to enhance energy generation and distribution capabilities. - **Telecommunications:** The telecommunications industry can leverage space-based energy transmission to revolutionize power supply and improve network infrastructure. - **Aerospace:** The aerospace industry can explore the potential of foldable technology to create lightweight and compact spacecraft designs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Origami-Inspired Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sego-innovations.md) - [Origami Travel Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-panel-origami-technology.md) - [3D Solar Panel Modules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tipa.md) - [User-Friendly Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lunar-energy.md) - [Flexible Solar Film Energy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heliafilm.md) - [Lunar Material-Based Solar Cells](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lunar-dust.md) - [Efficient Scalable Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perovskia-solar.md) - [Space-Inspired Folding Umbrellas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bloombrella.md) - [Solar Panel Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-tapestry.md)