The SolarStratos is a solar-powered plane with high-reaching goals. And by high-reaching, I mean 80,000 ft. (24,000 m) in the air.
Harnessing the power of the sun, the SolarStratos demonstrates the potential of renewable energy. It is deemed the first commercial two-seated, solar-powered plane in history and will also be the first manned solar plane to reach Earth’s stratosphere. What an overachiever.
At the heights this plane can soar, you can see the daytime stars and, as the photo demonstrates below, the curvature of the Earth. Just check out that view!
This project started back in 2014, but recently the team reached a significant milestone – the completion of the operational base’s hanger. This is where the SolarStratos will be further developed, maintained, and tested.
The plane itself was built by PC-Aero, while the solar-powered system was developed by the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology. The entire design measures 27.9 ft. (8.5 m) and has a wingspan stretching 81.7 ft. (24.9 m), weighing in at just 992 lbs. (450 kg). The solar panels cover 237 sq ft. (22 sq m) of the entire design. This provides power to the 32 kW electric engine and charges the 20 kWh lithium-ion battery.
The mission will last five hours in total. This will consist of two hours ascending into space, fifteen minutes of stratosphere sightseeing, and three hours descending back to the ground. Although the test flight is much shorter, the provided solar power allows the SolarStratos to remain airborne for over 24 hours.
Unlike regular aircrafts, the SolarStratos will not be pressurized. This minimizes the plane’s overall weight. Instead, the pilot will wear a pressurized suit typically worn by astronauts. Since the suit will be powered by the plane, the pilot cannot eject or deploy a parachute during an emergency situation. Adding to the potential danger, the pilot and plane have to battle harsh conditions while soaring at such high altitudes, with temperatures reaching -94 °F (-70 °C).
The public launch of the hanger and plane are set for early December 2016, and the first test flights will take place sometime in 2017. Watch the video below to get a sense of the solar-powered plane’s future journey.