a solar panel that unfolds in sunlight could power spacecraft

Leah CraneA\'s special type of plastic allows folded solar panels to unfold themselves when exposed to the sun.
This may help with solar panels that supply power to some spacecraft that must be launched in a small container and will unfold as soon as they enter orbit.
These types of solar panels are usually deployed by some kind of external controller, whether it is a mechanical system, such as a spiral spring released, or a small motor.