two high-altitude solar-powered UAVs the company is calling
"atmospheric satellites". The aircraft are designed to fly up to
65,000ft (19,800m) altitude and remain there for up to weeks
at a time, sustained by a 50m wingspan and a single large
battery-powered propeller, itself powered by thousands of
high-efficiency solar cells placed on virtually every possible
surface. It is not the first multi-week "atmospheric satellite"
aircraft. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) initiated a programme to develop just such a
concept, resulting in AeroVironment's Global Observer,
which was unfortunately destroyed in a crash, and
QinetiQ's Zephyr, a demonstrator design for Boeing's
Vulture concept. Though the Solara programme is
unrelated, the programmes all share similar characteristics
- multi-year endurance and a 65,000ft operating altitude.
Between 60,000-70,000ft sits a "sweet spot", says Titan,
where the average winds are less than 5kts.
Titan Aerospace
The Solara 50 (above) and Solara 60
high-altitude solar-powered UAVs are
designed to fly up to 65,000ft altitude and
remain there for up to weeks at a time
|
The Solara will be launched with a catapult and cruise at
65,000ft at a maximum speed of around 60mph (97kmh),
carrying a 70lb payloadfor up to five years before landing
gently on its Kevlar-coated belly. Thepayload capacity varies
greatly depending on the amount of available sunlight -
operations during the longest days of the year could
allowfor up to an additional 100lb payload, supplied with
100 watts ofelectricity overnight and ranging into kilowatts
during the day."We've been developing this for a number
of years," says Max Yaney, who oversees technology
aspects of the programme. "Obviously there are some
very exciting programmes that have been attempted over
theyears. This is the holy grail of edge-of-space access....
We've takenthe lessons learned from all of those
programmes"."We make heavyuse of the latest and
greatest composite materials and advancedcomposite
techniques developed over recent years," Yaney
continues."There are actually fantastic advances in
composites that allow us to meet the strength and weight
requirements. We employ the entire spectrum."A customer
has reserved two Solara 50 aircraft to carry communications
relay packages, but Titan declined to identify the
customer. The first aircraft is under construction, expected
to roll out in 2014
65,000ft at a maximum speed of around 60mph (97kmh),
carrying a 70lb payloadfor up to five years before landing
gently on its Kevlar-coated belly. Thepayload capacity varies
greatly depending on the amount of available sunlight -
operations during the longest days of the year could
allowfor up to an additional 100lb payload, supplied with
100 watts ofelectricity overnight and ranging into kilowatts
during the day."We've been developing this for a number
of years," says Max Yaney, who oversees technology
aspects of the programme. "Obviously there are some
very exciting programmes that have been attempted over
theyears. This is the holy grail of edge-of-space access....
We've takenthe lessons learned from all of those
programmes"."We make heavyuse of the latest and
greatest composite materials and advancedcomposite
techniques developed over recent years," Yaney
continues."There are actually fantastic advances in
composites that allow us to meet the strength and weight
requirements. We employ the entire spectrum."A customer
has reserved two Solara 50 aircraft to carry communications
relay packages, but Titan declined to identify the
customer. The first aircraft is under construction, expected
to roll out in 2014
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