The Swiss developers of SolarStratos began testing solar aircraft designed to fly in the stratosphere. The first flight was at a height of 300 meters and lasted for about seven minutes.
On the wings of the aircraft placed solar panels that produce energy for the engine is 32 kW and simultaneously charge the Li-ion battery at 20 kW. Wingspan SolarStratos is approximately 25 meters length and 8.5 meters long and weighs a little more than 450 pounds.
To facilitate the construction of the cockpit is not insulated and not sealed, so the pilots will fly it in special space suits, capable of withstanding temperatures up to minus 56 degrees.
Rise to a height of 24 thousand meters is the plane about two hours. According to the developers, to fully fly the aircraft in 2019, and until then he will undergo a number of tests and modifications of the design.
Despite the fact that the launch SolarStratos will cost $ 10 million, the developers are confident that these aircraft will be needed in the future — missions to the space frontier will allow to study and to entertain tourists.
Began testing the stratospheric electroanalyt SolarStratos
Vyacheslav Larionov