ELHASPA Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft makes first flight

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Thursday, 01 December 2011 21:45

There's no doubt that satellites have become an essential part of our daily lives, making things like communications, navigation, weather forecasting, and remote imaging all possible. Unfortunately, the orbiting objects can be very expensive, both to build and to launch into outer space. For some of the functions that they carry out, however, an actual satellite isn't required - a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) aircraft could also get the job done, and at a much lower cost. Some such aircraft have been powered by conventional fuel, batteries, and hydrogen. On November 13th, though, the Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft (ELHASPA) joined the ranks of HALE aircraft to fly using nothing but the power of the Sun. .. Continue Reading ELHASPA Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft makes first flightSection: Aero GizmoTags: Autonomous, EADS, Electric Aircraft, HALE, Solar Powered Related Articles: Global Observer unmanned aircraft makes first hydrogen-powered flight Boeing tests hydrogen propulsion system for high-altitude UAV Solar Powered hybrid aircraft - Sunseeker II QinetiQ's Zephyr breaks world record for longest unmanned flight Boeing SolarEagle solar-powered UAV to fly in 2014 QinetiQ Zephyr solar powered unmanned aircraft to land after 14 days aloft