NASA is preparing its Helios solar-powered unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for a record-breaking flight in mid-August, following completion of an 18h functional checkout flight (FCF) from the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii on 14 July.
Marking the first Helios flight under solar as opposed to battery power, the FCF expanded the aircraft's flight envelope and verified operation ofaircraft systems, says NASA.
Helios will now attempt to soar to an altitude of 100,000ft (30,500m), breaking the 80,200ft record for solar-powered and propeller-driven aircraft set in August 1998 by Pathfinder Plus, a predecessor to Helios.
The high-altitude flight is the first of two major milestones set for the machine by NASA. The other, a four-day non-stop endurance demonstration flight above 50,000ft, is set for 2003. The endurance flight will require use of a regenerative hydrogen-oxygen energy storage system under development at AeroVironment.
Helios, which is driven by 14 electric motors, is designed to cruise for up to six months, at a top speed of only 22kt (40km/h).
Source: Flight International
