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Solar Powered Helios Plane Destroyed in Test Flight
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."
Appropriate name too.
Anyhoo, it's sad to see such a technological marvel crash into the pacific ocean like it did. Maybe NASA will scoop up the wreckage, figure out what went wrong, and then build another one. It would be great to see what we can learn from Helios in general, and not just on an aviation or RF use either. I mean in the field of solar electric generation, and how even in the Aerospace industry it has it's benefits and drawbacks. I personally would love to be using solar electricity instead of having to pay the electric company, but alas, we can't always get what we want...
KevX45
"Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky"-Pink Floyd
It is not suprising that Congress would cut funding for the space program, but it's against the will of the people. I think we can all understand that space is dangerous and people will die. Millions of dollars of equipment can be lost, but we must push forward, for the sake of our species.
As for your point about using a cool liquid to make reentry safer, we don't have to use a cryogenic liquid, water works just fine. Spraying it as a fine mist on the exterior of the craft would cause it to boil, making a neat, little shell. This has been proven to work, and I believe it was going to be used on the Roton concept. Ordinarily, the shuttle returns to earth with as much if not more water than when it left because it is produced in the fuel cells on board.
This is why I went into software instead of Engineering. When my program fails, I reboot / recompile / restore the drive ... whatever.
I bet a lot of mechanical engineers wish they had a restart button.
Putting aside the fubar'd aerodynamics of having a hole in the wing (which I think would be significant), I don't think the nitrogen could offset the friction.
liquid n2 is a couple of hundred degrees below zero, but the plasma that it would have to fight is several thousand degrees. I doubt that the shuttle could carry enough n2 to do the job.
Not to mention that you'd have to have a massive amount of pipes, etc... note really feasible.
"Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
Two thoughts. First, this is unfortunate, but it is what happens when you push the boundaries. It isn't safe on the cutting edge.
Second, if we want more funding for an agency then a strong case for it must be made. We shouldn't fund NASA just because it is NASA. NASA has done a poor job of creating a vision for what can and should do. It isn't clear to me why they should continue at current budget levels. I wonder if part of the reason is that it has become a government agency that is more focused on sustaining itself then offering a service to the people it serves.
Apparently it's going to beat that ~96000 record the Helios set, but won't be officially eligable because it's not going to take off under it's own power.
The balloon that launches it is fairly impressive too:
"As tall as the Empire State Building, their manned envelope will be the biggest ever flown."
Famous AirCrafts in history:
1. Apollo1 - blew up on the launchpad
2. Challenger - blew up in the air
3. Concorde: blew up during takeoff
4. Columbia - blew up landing
5. Helios - "broke apart" (aren't we glad we have next generation renewable energy that doen't blow up/cost lives ? )
-n
During the presentation, someone asked about what the commercial applications were for such technology. Apparently, blimp companies are VERY interested in fuel cell technology. Blimps, as they burn off fuel for the steering engines, get lighter. In order to get back down to the ground, they sometimes have to blow out helium which is VERY expensive. But with a fuel cell, the blimp actually gets heavier as flight goes one because they can hang onto the "exhaust" (water) and keep the blimp in equilibrium through the entire flight.
The military is of course interested too because fuel cell powered planes are VERY quiet (electric motor) and the technolgoy will allow for far greater range than batteries.
-S
--- What parts of "shall make no law", "shall not be infringed", and "shall not be violated" don't you understand?