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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."

4 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by kevx45 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    96,000 ft! I wonder how much that thing weighed. Anyone have a link somewhere to specifications on the Helios?

    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
  2. Re:/me waits for.... by GreenJeepMan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

  3. Re:A thought or two... by capt.Hij · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

  4. BBC story on UK aircraft about to be launched by boicy · · Score: 5, Interesting
    here is an article on the new British high altitude UAV that should be launched pretty shortly.

    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."