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Solar Powered Helios Plane Destroyed in Test Flight

Posted by michael on from the in-the-event-of-a-water-landing dept.

deglr6328 writes "NASA's solar powered Helios airplane has crashed into the Pacific off the coast of Kauai today during its first test using a regenerative fuel cell power supply. Helios held the record for highest prop propelled plane altitude at 96,863 (set 2 years ago) and was making preparations for a 96 hour continuous flight using its 62,000 solar cells during the day while electrolyzing water into hydrogen and oxygen for use in its fuel cells at night. With the capability to carry 200 lb. to near 100,000 ft. for months on end, Helios was eyed with great anticipation by scientists and RF telecommunications buisnesses alike."

9 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. And... by heironymouscoward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thus continuing a great tradition of first flights.

    If it does not crash and burn it was not a good test.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
  2. It's a shame they didn't name it... by Delusion- · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Icarus.

    1. Re:It's a shame they didn't name it... by scotnt73 · · Score: 4, Funny

      This one most likely broke up because it was too close to the ground. The thing is designed to fly in almost no atmosphere.

      all planes break up when they get too close to the ground

  3. Another example by GMontag · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yet another example of the dangers of solar power.

    If God intended for us to use solar airplanes He would never have given us Jet A.

    --
    Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
  4. NASA investigation team has its work cut out by mekkab · · Score: 4, Funny

    Man, do I feel bad for that NASA investigation team. Having to spend a large amount of time on the beautiful, garden island of Kaua'i, with its sunny south shore, and lush, tropic north short (with some incredible surfing), not to mention Mt Wai'ale'ale, where it rains 360 days a year and has vegetation that grows no-where else, and the breath-taking Napali cliffs...

    I don't envy them.

    Wait, yes I do!

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
  5. Re:Wow by bsharitt · · Score: 4, Funny

    (This just proves that i read the article before posting ;-)

    In that case, we are going to have to revoke your Slashdot account.

  6. Bad place to fly... by gunnk · · Score: 4, Funny

    The remotely piloted, one-of-a-kind Helios Prototype crashed off Kauai within the testing area of the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility

    Maybe flying it in a missile test range wasn't such a good idea...

    --
    Life is short: void the warranty.
  7. Re:A thought or two... by Detritus · · Score: 4, Funny

    The National Simian Safety Board has permanently suspended travel to the big flat thing under the trees after two terranauts were killed by a lion. A local citizens group protested the allocation of bananas to ground exploration, saying that the bananas would be better spent on grooming and bug removal.

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    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  8. Re:First? Not so much. by notque · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apparently, in your hurry to post this profundity, you missed the article.

    "We were flying at about the 8,000-foot altitude west of Kauai over the ocean and the aircraft simply broke up," said Alan Brown, a spokesman for NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.

    It is very flimsy.

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    http://use.perl.org