Spacecraft power is provided by the solar panels which contain 11.42 square meters of silicon cells.

The group had their success in the early 80s through producing a 20% efficient silicon cell, which now has been improved to 25%.

Each array, which measures 38 feet across, contains 32,800 silicon cells that convert sunlight into electricity.

These results are well within the limit for that of traditional inorganic silicon solar cells.

But they think raising their efficiency above 10 percent - the level of the least efficient silicon cells - will not be too difficult.

This innovation was possible due to the introduction of the amorphous silicon solar cell in a watch movement.

Some of the changes made include switching to silicon solar cells and reducing the weight of the car.

Solar engineers have found a way to increase the efficiency of standard commercial silicon cells from 19% to 23%.

The giant blue and gold wings, containing almost 70,000 silicon cells that can turn sunlight into electricity, are each 38 feet wide.

The discovery could allow the theoretical maximum efficiency of silicon solar cells to be increased from 31% to 44%.