Canadian Company Plans Solar-Powered Heavier-Than-Air Airships

Posted by timothy on Saturday October 22, 2011 @05:55PM from the sir-we're-nearly-out-of-buzzwords dept.

savuporo writes "By crossing airships with airplanes, Solar Ship is planning to build a craft that can carry heavy loads long distances with a tiny carbon footprint. Filled with helium, they soak up rays from the sun to provide the energy for forward motion and fulfill its original design challenge – carry 1,000 kilograms (2,205 lbs) of payload 1,000 kilometers (621.4 miles). The craft is heavier than air, and uses a combination of helium filling its interior and its lifting body delta wing shape to stay airborne. Solar Ship shows plans for a range of different size craft for different duties."

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Re:A bit short sighted by Scarletdown · 2011-10-22 19:25 · Score: 4, Funny

But since it is a lot hotter in that direction, all those missions to the sun would have to be done at night.

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Re:A bit short sighted by Kagura · 2011-10-23 13:11 · Score: 3, Funny

So what's lighter than helium and hydrogen? Vacuum! We need more advancements in vacuum balloon technology.