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World's First Solar-Propelled Blimp To Cross English Channel
An anonymous reader writes "Can a blimp propelled entirely by solar power cross the English Channel? We're about to find out! Nephelios, the world's first solar blimp, was built by Projet Sol'r — a collaboration between students at engineering and technical schools in France. Now, almost a year after its debut (and a year after it was supposed to launch), the helium-filled airship is ready for action, with its inaugural flight set to take place next week. The blimp is covered in semi-flexible solar cells that can generate up to 2.4 kilowatts — enough to keep the blimp moving at 25 mph as it crosses la Manche."
Dude, to go to England we take the train. It lasts less than 20 minutes.
And don't make fun of this : my Grad School participate. Else I might cry.
It's 21C here in London, rising to 25C this afternoon. 30C at the weekend. I think they've chosen good weather for it :-)
DARPA (which I'm sure you know doesn't have the same kind of budget) has a project about a radar-equipped solar-propelled blimp that would float @ 10,000 meters and include a battery to stock the solar energy of they day for the night.
They expect is to cruise at 60mph with top speed at 100mph. It is supposed to be operational in 2013
This project could totally be adapted, with extra funding like the one they would get by crossing the Channel, with a bigger structure and a battery, to run day and night.
Did they use solar power to produce the metal and/or carbon fiber for that plane? If not, then by your argument the plane isn't solar powered either. The helium in the blimp is not being consumed like a fuel source, it's just a structural component like whatever other materials encase it. Helium just happens to passively have negative relative mass compared to the medium the blimp is flying in, which lets the blimp fly.
Large? That's frigging tiny. Many airships could fit this one in, sideways. Seriously, compare the Akron, at ~239 meters (785 feet) by ~40-45 meters (130-155) wide/tall.
No, Helium will not burn. It is simply impossible for it to oxidize.