Slashdot Mirror
Solar-Powered Plane to Fly Around the World
securitas writes "The BBC's Carolyn Fry reports on the Solar Impulse project, a plan to circumnavigate the globe in a solar-powered airplane. Adventurers Brian Jones and Dr. Bertrand Piccard, who were the first people to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon in 1999, are behind the Solar Impulse project. The project is proceeding to the design stage after a feasability study determined that the solar-powered airplane concept is a viable idea. While other solar-powered planes like the Helios prototype have relied on a secondary power source (fuel cells), this project will be powered by solar energy alone. Batteries will store energy received in daylight hours to fly all night. The first prototype is scheduled for launch in 2006."
Big spotlights on the ground shining up at the plane as it goes by!
The spotlights will be powered by a combination of coal powered power stations in urban areas, ancient russian nuclear reactors... and furnaces powered by burning kittens.
But the light is enviro friendly!
The solar cells will charge batteries. The batteries will power a bank of flashlights that will keep the wings illuminated at night.
Indeed.
Everybody knows that the God wants us to burn oil, gas and coal.
Bomb anyone who thinks to the contrary.
The owls are not what they seem
"Batteries will store energy received in daylight hours to fly all night."
Why not just fly the other drection and stay in the sunlight?
Earth's circumference: around 24,000 miles.
Hours in a day: around 24.
Speed of Earth's rotation at surface: around 1,000 miles per hour.
Look on your face as the sun goes wooshing past your solar plane: priceless.
This has already been discussed on /.
But maybe I could get even better karma by reposting my old comments into this new thread?
Not to mention Jean-Luc, the famous starship captain.