Circling the Globe on Solar Power

Watching a night landing may not be very exciting, until one realizes the plane is solar-powered. The Solar Impulse 2 departed United Arab Emirates for Muscat, Oman, on March 9, 2015 to start its round-the-world journey. The successor to the smaller original Swiss-made Solar Impulse which logged a 26-hour flight in 2010, the new carbon-fiber aircraft travels at 50-100 km/hour (30-60 mph). The 72-m (236 ft) wings are fitted with more than 17,000 solar cells; lithium polymer batteries and four brushless motors round out the energy system. Follow the status of the flight, batteries, and solar cells in real time at Solar Impulse Cockpit.

Editor's Note: This news brief was brought to you by the Aerospace Technology eNewsletter. Subscribe today to have content like this delivered to your inbox