Mitt actually took valuable time to mention that dig at Newt??
Newt described the mirrors-in-space idea in a futurist type of book that he wrote 27 years ago. He was reciting a list of proposals by participants at a NASA-sponsored brainstorming conference.
Some of the futuristic ideas Newt mentioned in that book have come to pass. Some have not. That is the nature of futuristic ideas.
There is no evidence to suggest that Newt has mentioned that idea since.
I think it's a safe bet to conclude that Newt's cite of that idea 27 years ago (lol) is not any indication that it would be part of his current day policy "focus".
However Mitt's lack of focus on current day policy, given his 27 years old deceptively framed cite of a Newt book passage, seems to be a problem.
He did mention the mirrors in space thing but I think I read the idea of schools taking role electronically somewhere else.
I’m a sci fi fan myself and someday we may have mirrors in space but right now we need to get rid of Obama, obamacare and the EPA and ... well, the list goes on.