Posted on 07/14/2023 5:14:36 PM PDT by Libloather
A British-built solar powered drone with a 115ft wingspan that can operate in the air for 20 months has made a successful maiden voyage to the stratosphere – the second layer of Earth's atmosphere.
Over a 24-hour period, PHASA-35 took off from New Mexico and soared to more than 66,000 feet, officially reaching the stratosphere, before landing successfully.
The 150kg solar-electric aircraft, which has a wingspan lined with solar panels, has been developed by London firm BAE Systems at their facility in Warton, Lancashire.
It is powered by the sun during the day and by batteries overnight, allowing it to maintain flight for over a year operating in the stratosphere, lower than most satellites.
PHASA-35 can carry a payload of up to 15kg including cameras, sensors and communications equipment to allow troops to talk to each other or provide internet access to rural locations during a natural disaster or emergency.
It also has the potential to be used in the delivery of communications networks including 4G and 5G, such as for regions that currently have poor coverage.
BAE systems say PHASA-35 will be available by the middle of the decade and provide a 'persistent and affordable alternative to satellite technology', which is traditionally heavier.
PHASA-35 weighs 150kg – around the same as a panda bear and a fraction of most satellites that normally weigh thousands of kg.
Developed in collaboration with engineers from Hampshire firm Prismatic, PHASA-35 will have various uses including 'ultra-long endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as security'.
'The team have absolutely smashed this out of the park,' said Dave Corfield, CEO of Prismatic, shortly after the launch.
'PHASA-35's first stratospheric flight demonstrates that this vehicle is on track to become the go-to system for long endurance, high altitude and communications applications in the future.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Sounds like a satellite. Certainly nothing useful for transport.
The Russian S-550 Air Defense System (now finishing up testing) can take out satellites, so if the British want to get cute with this drone, I wish them luck.
Dean Ing was writing science fiction about aircraft like this some 40 years ago. Nice to see some of it finally happening.
Call within the next 19 minutes and get a second one for free!
We tested a similar concept plane at Yuma Proving Ground more than 10 years ago. I suspect battery tech has improved considerably since then.
Sounds like a good compliment to our U-2 and Global Hawk surveillance platforms. The Russians can shoot them down too, you takes steps to mitigate it.
Why ship it? If it has GPS it can just fly itself to your house. ;-)
After one actually stays aloft for a year then I’ll believe it.
I am pretty sure I remember some firms were developing this technology back in the 1980’s...anyone remember for sure?
Most likely this will be used to soy on western cities. “Hmmm. It seems you put up an illegal garden shed Mr. Smith.”
I know this because I worked on a long range drone an Austrian city bought to spy on their cities. They are probably already used all over, but this new one can stay up for a year and collect every millimeter of movement in real time.
I have an electric wall clock in my kitchen, you know, the one above the sink?
It’s been plugged in and running for 40+ years and keeps perfect time.
Sometimes, simple is a very good thing.
Solar power, basic motors, temperature and pressure accommodated, some impact resistance.
Solar powered flying thing goes for a year, sure. And it’s probably not all that complicated.
Now, if they could get my EZ Pass to work as effortlessly, we would really have something.
Have you ever read the story ‘Memorial’ circa 1946?
Well worth the time looking.
ABSOLUTELY. Sickening, but that is what has become of what once were ‘free’ societies.
“After one actually stays aloft for a year”
Yep
This is just like the rediculous claims about LED light bulbs lasting almost forever? (power supplies fail, so will batteries on the solar powered plane)
Sure, I remember that story, though I’m not quite sure how it pertains to this thread. Theodore Sturgeon has always been one of my favorite sf authors, and I have nearly everything he wrote, including the 13-volume Complete Short Stories. I’ll always regret not going to meet him before he died, when I lived not too far away.
This one worked for a whole day so they have 20 months in the bag no sweat.
If you have a Weld County License, can you shoot it down if it’s over your property?
“150kg, same as a panda bear…”
Seems like a weird comparison.
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