Skydweller Solar Aircraft Project Lives On After Loss Of Prototype

Fragile Flying Giants An uncrewed aircraft using solar power and batteries can remain at high altitude for weeks or months at a time, providing the sensing and communication capability of a satellite at a fraction of the price. Unlike a satellite it can be repositioned at will, and can be landed and upgraded whenever needed. An eternal aircraft is a prize worth wining. The problem is that solar aircraft tend to be fragile creatures. In the fifty years since the Astro Flight Sunrise made the first ever solar-powered flight, the type has presented engineering challenges. In 2003, NASA’s groundbreaking Helios…