3 ms·
Doesn't appear to have a payload in the picture. That would add weight & power draw.
by akozak 5y ago
Doesn't appear to have a payload in the picture. That would add weight & power draw.
- Breza 5y agoProving the concept is huge, since this is an idea that's at least as old as satellites. Once they have the proof of concept, I see three additional hurdles: 1. Safety. Prove you can keep these things in the air for months at a time without any of them crashing. 2. Payload. Exactly what you point out. 3. Operational usefulness. Can this thing stay in the air for months while flying the routes necessary to complete its mission? I really hope Airbus and others are able to make this concept work. It would be nice to have an in-between option between UAS and satellite.
- nabla9 5y agoFirst communications satellites were just passive reflectors. They were just big inflated balloons made with reflective material. Same idea could work with solar powered aircraft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAGEOS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAGEOS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Echo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Echo