Over the past decade there’s been a big push for cheaper alternatives to space travel. Blasting man-made objects into orbit has never been a cheap endeavour, and a company called Titan Aerospace thinks gigantic solar-powered drones could even be a far more affordable alternative to launching satellites.
Circling the globe at an altitude of 65,000 feet, the Solara 50 would be kept aloft by its 50 foot wings that are completely covered in solar panels. During the day it would capture and convert more than enough power to keep flying all night long, and its creators claim it could stay in the air for as long as five years without needing to land for maintenance. It also means that unlike with satellites, at the end of a mission the payload would be safely returned to earth.
via Gizmodo
