Solar-powered aircraft begin flying around the world.
A solar-powered aircraft began its round-the-world journey today from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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| Solar Impulse 2 took off today and is expected to return to Abu Dhabi in July. Photo: Solar Impulse |
The Solar Impulse 2 (SI2) took off from Al-Bateen airport at 7:12 a.m. local time today (4:12 a.m. GMT). It is flying toward Muscat, the capital of Oman, and is expected to land there after the first leg of its journey.
From Muscat, the aircraft will make 12 stops on its five-month journey. During this time, it is expected to fly across the Arabian Sea to India, before continuing on to Myanmar, China, Hawaii, and New York, USA. Depending on weather conditions, Solar Impulse 2 (SI2) will stop in the American Midwest, southern Europe, or North Africa. The longest leg of the flight lasts five days, crossing the Pacific Ocean for a distance of 8,500 km.
The SI2 is a new, improved version, weighing 2,300 kg and having a wingspan of 72 m. The aircraft is designed with 17,000 solar panels, allowing it to fly indefinitely without fuel, and also operate in autopilot mode. The SI2 flies at speeds of 50-100 km/h, gradually slowing down at night.
The vehicle only has room for one person, so the two pilots, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will take turns controlling it. They are connected to a control center in Monaco, with the support of 65 people.
"This is a human project, a human challenge," Borschberg, co-founder and CEO of Solar Impulse, told reporters yesterday. Previously, Solar Impulse 2 (SI2) was scheduled to launch on March 7th but was delayed due to weather conditions.
According to AFP, this trip aims to improve and promote the development of green energy sources in the future.
"We want to share our vision of a cleaner future. Climate change is an opportunity to introduce new green technologies to the market that save energy, conserve natural resources, create profits and jobs, and sustain growth," emphasized Piccard, President of Solar Impulse.
According to VnExpress
