Solar power is a preeminent alternative to conventional aircraft propulsion. With the continued advances in solar cells, fuel cells, and composite materials technology, the solar powered airplane is no longer a simple curiosity constrained to flights of several feet in altitude or minutes of duration. A high altitude solar powered platform (HASPP) has several potential missions, including communications and agriculture. In remote areas, a HASPP could be used as a communication link. In large farming areas, a HASPP could perform remote sensing of crops. The impact of HASPP in continuous flight for one year on agricultural monitoring mission is presented. This mission provides farmers with near real-time data twice daily from an altitude which allows excellant resolution on water conditions, crop diseases, and insect infestation. Accurate, timely data will enable farmers to increase their yield and efficiency. A design for HASPP for the foregoing mission is presented. In the design power derived from solar cells covering the wings is used for propulsion, avionics, and sensors. Excess power produced midday will be stored in fuel cells for use at night to maintain altitude and course.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    High Altitude Solar Power Platform


    Contributors:
    M. D. Bailey (author) / M. V. Bower (author)

    Publication date :

    1992


    Size :

    91 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    High altitude solar power platform

    Bailey, M. D. / Bower, M. V. | NTRS | 1992


    Thermal analysis of a high-altitude solar platform

    Beneitez Ortega, Cristina / Zimmer, Dirk / Weber, Patrick | Springer Verlag | 2023

    Free access

    HIGH ALTITUDE PLATFORM

    DAVIDSON PETER / HUNT HUGH EDMUND MURRAY / BURGOYNE CHRISTOPHER JOHN | European Patent Office | 2016

    Free access

    High altitude platform

    DAVIDSON PETER / HUNT HUGH EDMUND MURRAY / BURGOYNE CHRISTOPHER JOHN | European Patent Office | 2015

    Free access

    Geostationary high altitude platform

    VAN WYNSBERGHE ERINN | European Patent Office | 2021

    Free access