Errymath: solar-powered aircraft

The Next Space Race: Is America Ready For Chinese Space Drones?

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 Flying Cloud uav, concept from CASIC's 3rd Academy<br />
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 Feiyun solar-powered drone<br />
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In a major breakthrough, China has unveiled a formidable new 
high-altitude drone that could give its military a significant 
advantage.<br />
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Designed to operate in “near space,” 12.5 miles above sea level or 
higher, China’s new drones can break through air defenses, avoid radar 
detection, and collect valuable intelligence while staying well beyond 
the range of anti-aircraft fire.<br />
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Operating at these heights has been a challenge that has long eluded 
engineers. Dubbed a drone “death zone” as the air at this elevation 
makes it difficult to generate lift and extremely low temperatures cause
 electrical equipment like batteries to fail.<br />
<br />
Until now, the U.S. military’s <a class="externalLink" href="http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-5-most-lethal-drones-all-time-12326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RQ-4 Global Hawk</a>
 has been the highest-flying drone, operating at altitudes of 60,000 
feet. But in a recent test, Chinese engineers surpassed that, flying an 
experimental drone at 82,000 feet.<br />
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At a research facility in Inner Mongolia, two drones were attached to a 
weather balloon and deployed at 30,000 feet and 82,000 feet. Roughly the
 size of a bat and weighing about as much as a soccer ball, the drones 
were launched by an electromagnetic pulse sling shot that catapulted 
them out at 60 mph.<br />
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The drones coasted to targets over sixty miles away, automatically 
adjusting their flight path and sending data back to a ground station. 
Most notably, due to their small size, they were barely detectable on 
radar during their test flight.<br />
<br />
The drones were equipped with several sensors, including a terrain 
mapping device and an electromagnetic signal detector that would allow 
it to pinpoint military troops. However, the drones could not carry 
cameras, as that would require a bulky antenna to transmit photo or 
video data, which would throw off its delicate aerodynamics.<br />
<br />
Its wings and body are seamlessly blended into a flat, tailless design 
that generates lift in the thin atmosphere of near space. Some models, 
like the two recently tested, do not have engines, instead drifting to 
their targets like a glider.<br />
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“The goal of our research is to launch hundreds of these drones in one 
shot, like letting loose a bee or ant colony,” Professor Yang Yanchu, 
the head of the project from the Chinese Academy of Sciences,<a class="externalLink" href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2117709/china-tests-new-spy-drones-near-space-death-zone?utm_source=edm&utm_medium=edm&utm_content=20171031&utm_campaign=scmp_china&emarsys=1&sc_src=email_2060322&sc_llid=1157&sc_lid=146777614&sc_uid=CdSb7QuJVI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> told</a> the <i>South China Morning Post</i>.<br />
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Militaries have long sought to take advantage of near space as it offers
 an opportunity to gather intelligence over large-areas without the 
costs or vulnerabilities of satellites.<br />
<br />
As advanced militaries increasingly rely on satellites for everything 
from intelligence to communications to missile guidance, they have 
become <a class="externalLink" href="http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/how-china-would-win-war-against-america-kill-washingtons-21879" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">high-priority targets</a>
 during wartime, and are difficult to defend. Therefore, having near 
space vehicles capable of gathering intelligence, relaying data, and 
serving as a backup or even replacement satellites would be invaluable.<br />
<br />
But so far no country has been able to operate in near space, as most 
aircraft cannot fly at such high altitudes and it is too low for 
satellites.<br />
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China has been actively developing new technology that would allow it to
 operate in this largely uncontested new frontier with its Scientific 
Experiment System of Near Space, a pilot program led by the Chinese 
Academy of Sciences.<br />
<br />
In June, China test<a class="externalLink" href="https://www.popsci.com/china-solar-powered-drone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> flew</a>
 a solar-powered drone at 65,000 feet. The massive drone, dubbed the 
Caihong-T4, has a wingspan of 130 ft and is designed to stay aloft for 
months at a time with minimal supervision.<br />
<br />
Not to be outdone, NASA currently holds the record with its Helios Prototype, which<a class="externalLink" href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-068-DFRC.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> soared</a> to nearly 97,000 feet on solar power.<br />
<br />
But unlike these prototypes and current high-altitude drones which cost 
millions of dollars, China’s newest high-flying drone would <a class="externalLink" href="http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-coming-drone-wars-headache-the-making-american-foreign-21662" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">only cost</a> a few hundred yuan.<br />
<br />
With these cheap, stealthy high-altitude drones, China has leapt ahead in the near space race.<br />
<br />
<i>Eugene K. Chow writes on foreign policy and military affairs. His work has been published in </i>The Week, Huffington Post<i>, and </i>The Diplomat<i>. This article first appeared in 2017.</i><br />
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The Next Space Race: Is America Ready For Chinese Space Drones?

Flying Cloud uav, concept from CASIC's 3rd Academy Feiyun solar-powered drone In a major breakthrough, China has unveiled a f...

Sun-powered ‘space plane’ completes first test flight en route to stratosphere

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A solar plane tipped to one day soar to the edge of space has 
successfully completed its maiden flight, showing off its impressive 
wingspan during a test run in Switzerland.

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With
 wings measuring 24.9 meters (82ft), the SolarStratos aircraft aims to 
observe the curvature of the earth and fly at an altitude of around 
23,000 meters.<br />
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<img alt="Sun-powered ‘space plane’ completes first test flight en route to stratosphere (PHOTOS,VIDEO)" class="media__item " src="https://cdn.rt.com/files/2017.05/original/590ca6d9c46188e57e8b45b4.jpg" /><br />
SolarStratos

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The brainchild of pilot Raphael Domjan, the solar powered plane took 
off from an airfield in Payerne, Switzerland, on Friday morning.<br />
Flown by test pilot Damian Hischier, the aircraft reached a height of around 304 meters in what was its first ever flight, <a href="https://www.afp.com/en/news/2265/stratospheric-solar-plane-makes-first-test-flight">AFP</a> reports.<br />
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The project <a href="https://twitter.com/SolarStratos">@SolarStratos</a> took to the air for the first time this morning in Payerne, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Switzerland?src=hash">#Switzerland</a>! 🛩☀️🇨🇭 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolarStratos?src=hash">#SolarStratos</a> <a href="https://t.co/lxdtvA6LsZ">pic.twitter.com/lxdtvA6LsZ</a></div>
— House of Switzerland (@HofSwitzerland) <a href="https://twitter.com/HofSwitzerland/status/860426855828127745">May 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Swiss solar plane completes its first test flight <a href="https://t.co/JqjL5yUrhl">https://t.co/JqjL5yUrhl</a> <a href="https://t.co/FR3Lmnpp2F">pic.twitter.com/FR3Lmnpp2F</a></div>
— Popular Mechanics (@PopMech) <a href="https://twitter.com/PopMech/status/860525445921550336">May 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

A statement by the plane’s designers described the anxiety before take-off and the utter joy of realizing that<i> “SolarStratos flies”</i>.<br />
<a href="https://www.rt.com/news/353266-solar-impulse-flight-complete/"><b><br /></b></a>
<i>“The
 plane rolled faster and faster, while our heartbeats accelerated to a 
crisis. And there, all of a sudden, the wheels left the track. Ultimate 
adrenaline rush, followed by a moment of incredulity and the explosion 
of joy,”</i> the statement reads.<br />
<i>“With this step completed, 
we can look forward to the next adventures with peace of mind. Of 
course, the road to flying at very high altitude is long, but we are 
confident of getting there.”</i><br />
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<img alt="Photo published for First Test Flight Of Stratospheric Solar Plane Takes Place In Switzerland" class="u-block" data-src="https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/860578644678266881/us46MbBY?format=jpg&name=600x314" height="332" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/860578644678266881/us46MbBY?format=jpg&name=600x314" width="640" /> <br />
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Domjan told AFP that the ultimate goal of SolarStratos is to show 
people that “it is possible to go beyond what fossil fuels offer.”<br />
In
 the future, the eco-adventure company hope to be able to open up 
stratospheric flights to the public, which will require passengers to 
don an astronaut’s suit and helmet due to the fact that the lightweight 
aircraft is not pressurized.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Swiss
 entrepreneur Bertrand Piccard, who is also pursuing clean energy 
aviation with the Solar Impulse solar plane, paid tribute to 
SolarStratos online.<br />
Piccard’s Solar Impulse 2 aircraft touched down in Dubai last year to complete a round-the-world trip without using a single drop of fuel.<br />
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Stratospheric solar plane makes first test flight in Switzerland <a href="https://t.co/29oMkGPPN9">https://t.co/29oMkGPPN9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/solarstratos?src=hash">#solarstratos</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZD2vDjKO3Q">pic.twitter.com/ZD2vDjKO3Q</a></div>
— AFP news agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/860480703426899970">May 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Sun-powered ‘space plane’ completes first test flight en route to stratosphere

A solar plane tipped to one day soar to the edge of space has successfully completed its maiden flight, showing off its impressive w...

Near-space flight of solar drone

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<span style="font-size: small;">BEIJING, Feb. 7 (<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-02/07/c_136038056.htm" target="_blank">Xinhua</a>) -- China will test how its largest solar 
drone performs near-space flight this year, according to the China 
Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) Tuesday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">With a wingspan of more than 40 meters, wider than that of a Boeing 
737 passenger plane, the rainbow series drone has just passed its first 
full-scale test flight, according to chief engineer of the CAAA drone 
project Shi Wen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The drone is the second largest solar-powered drone in the world, 
beaten only by a model by NASA, said Shi, adding its performance index 
and technological capacity are among the most advanced in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The drone is capable of flying at an extremely high altitude for a long time and its maintenance is easy and simple, he added.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Th chief engineer did not elaborate on details, but said such drones 
can usually ascend to an <i>altitude of 20 to 30 kilometers, and cruise at a
 speed of 150 to 200 km per hour.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The unmanned aerial vehicle will be </span><i>used mostly for airborne early 
warning, aerial reconnaissance, disaster monitoring, meteorological 
observation and communications relay</i><span style="font-size: small;">, according to Shi. </span><br />
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Near-space flight of solar drone

BEIJING, Feb. 7 ( Xinhua ) -- China will test how its largest solar drone performs near-space flight this year, according to the Chi...

Solar Impulse 2, solar-powered aircraft travelling 25,000 miles (40,200km) around the world without a single drop of fuel

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Solar Impulse 2</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">A 
ground-breaking plane has defied expectations by travelling 25,000 miles
 (40,200km) around the world without a single drop of fuel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 solar-powered aircraft,  </span><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Solar Impulse</span><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> 2, successfully completed its  
flight  today, returning to Abu Dhabi after an epic 17-month journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">With
 a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747, the ground-breaking craft touched 
down in the United Arab Emirates capital at 4:05am local time.</span></div>
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<img alt="Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard (right) and Andre Borschberg celebrate after landing their solar-powered aircraft in Abu Dhabi" class="blkBorder img-share" height="643" id="i-e79f5a54863c1bd8" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/3697672100000578-3707905-image-a-51_1469502805303.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard (right) and Andre Borschberg celebrate after landing their solar-powered aircraft in Abu Dhabi. <i>dailymail</i></div>
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<img alt="Solar Impulse touches down in Abu Dhabi after its iconic journey around the world without using a single drop of fuel" class="blkBorder img-share" height="642" id="i-3722bbaa81456338" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/3697440500000578-3707905-image-a-53_1469502813896.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Solar Impulse touches down in Abu Dhabi after its iconic journey around the world without using a single drop of fuel</div>
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<img alt="Solar Impulse 2 approaches to land at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, where it first took off more than a year ago" class="blkBorder img-share" height="641" id="i-4724b419496a44dd" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/36976A1200000578-3707905-image-a-55_1469502913868.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Solar Impulse 2 approaches to land at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, where it first took off more than a year ago</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 plane first took off from Abu Dhabi on March 9 of last year, beginning a
 landmark journey of around the globe and nearly 500 hours of flying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Unfavorable weather at times hindered smooth flying, causing the plane to be grounded for months in some countries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">At
 2:44am, the Solar Impulse Twitter account wrote: 'BREAKING: we flew 
40,000km without fuel. It's a first for energy, take it further! 
#futureisclean' </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Before taking off, Bertrand Piccard, who piloted the final leg, said: 'It's a project for energy, for a better world.' </span></div>
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Betrand Piccard (right) and Andre Borschberg (left) celebrate after landing in Abu Dhabi on the final leg of their epic journey. <i>dailymail</i><br />
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<img alt="A photo taken from Solar Impulse 2 shows an amazing aerial view of the Red Sea on its flight on 24 July" class="blkBorder img-share" height="722" id="i-a5548e9f31975c65" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/3697F23600000578-3707905-image-a-7_1469517837100.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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A photo taken from Solar Impulse 2 shows an amazing aerial view of the Red Sea on its flight on 24 July</div>
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                                <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BERTRAND PICCARD AND ANDRE BORSCHBERG ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR RECORD BREAKING FLIGHT </span></span>                            </h3>
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<img alt="The plane flew over the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco on April 23, 2016" class="blkBorder img-share" height="426" id="i-dc2d54da5ac35847" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/14/369A895800000578-3707905-image-a-3_1469539971159.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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The plane flew over the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco on April 23, 2016</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold">How does it feel to have finished?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Borscheberg said: 'I am only starting to realise that it is over now. 
But it is always the right time. The flight being over does not mean the
 project is over.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'We have a solid base now to work in the different directions we hope to work in.'</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold">What is your next step going to be?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Piccard: 'For aviation we are going to continue to use our expertise 
and knowledge to develop high altitude, unmanned solar aircraft and 
maybe even electric airplanes.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'I
 want to create a world council of clean technology to bring together 
all the experts in that sector who are normally not communicationg.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'I
 want to create a single voice where these experts can talk to the 
governments and heads of states about clear solutions that can fight 
climate change while also creating jobs for industry.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'There are a lot of interesting things to do. We are not unemployed and we are certainly not on vacation now.'</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold">Could airlines soon use solar powered aircraft to carry passengers?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Piccard said: 'We are not quite there yet for solar airplanes. But we 
will be there very soon with electric planes. I am certain that within 
10 years there will be fully electric airplanes for 50 passengers on 
short to medium haul flights.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It
 means there will be no noise and no pollution. For airports that are 
close to the city it will be a blessing for the neighbourhood and there 
will be new opportunities for air travel.'</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold">You were in the air for days at a time, what was the hardest thing about such long flights?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Piccard said: 'The most difficult moments were on the ground – 
preparing the technology, finding the partners with the funding, getting
 the permission and dealing with the bureaucracy and good weather 
conditions to fly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'But
 once you are in the air it was magical, it was fantastic. I am looking 
at my propellers turning on the left and right wing, then I look at the 
sun and I understand it is only the energy of the sun that gives the 
energy for these motors to turn. It is science fiction but it is a 
science fiction that is happening today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It
 was never boring flying in that plane. It is completely quiet, 
completely clean and completely new. There is only one plane like that 
in the entire world.</span></div>
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The plane travelled over Hawaii as part of a test flight in March 2016</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It was a privilege to fly it.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Borscheberg added: 'I really worked on the cockpit design and did it in
 such a way so I could practice at least part of the yoga I do every 
day. While I couldn't do sun salutations, for example, as I could not 
get up but I could do some of the exercises. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'Interestingly
 it became my home and the place where I lived. I got attached to this 
environment so when I went down after landing it was like leaving an old
 friend who had taken me over the ocean.'</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold">How do you go to the toilet on such long flights?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr Piccard said: 'Inside the seat there is a bag and you open the seat and go in there.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'But
 I tell you it is beautiful sitting on the toilet there, I have the most
 beautiful view of the world in front of you. You don't even need to 
close the curtains as there are no neighbours.'  </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold">What was your greatest highlight in the journey around the world? </span></span></b></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Borscheberg said: 'I read so much about pioneers when I was boy. The 
flight we did from Japan to Hawaii was THE exploratory flight of the 
project. I knew I wanted to do it.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'It
 was long and difficult, and we had some technical difficulties right up
 until before I took off. It was not easy but it will be an experience I
 will never forget.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Swiss
 explorers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, took turns piloting 
the aircraft, which can fly for days on only energy from the sun using 
an array of solar panels on its wings to charge on board batteries.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The plane's wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet but its light construction keeps its weight to about as much as a car.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It typically travels at a mere 30mph (48km/h), although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Speaking
 to MailOnline after landing, Mr Piccard said: 'Coming into Abu Dhabi 
was really a great moment. I had great emotion at finishing this last 
leg of our round-the-world journey – a project that has taken over my 
life for 17 years.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'But at the same time we had a lot of thermals and turbulence around Saudi Arabia, so I had to concentrate and focus on flying.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'I
 could not be overwhelmed by what we had achieved. It always seems like 
in big adventures like this there is always a final test.'</span></div>
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Solar Impulse 2 pilots Bertrand Piccard (left) and Andre Borschberg speak about their journey after landing in Abu Dhabi</div>
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<img alt="The Solar Impact 2 started its round-the-world solar flight from Abu Dhabi in March 2015, finally returning to base 16 months later" class="blkBorder img-share" height="441" id="i-4abca44e6545f78d" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/36974FD900000578-3707905-The_Solar_Impact_2_started_its_round_the_world_solar_flight_from-a-68_1469503310145.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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The Solar Impact 2 started its 
round-the-world solar flight from Abu Dhabi in March 2015, finally 
returning to base 16 months later</div>
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<img alt="Mr Borschberg and Mr Piccard have said they want to raise awareness of renewable energy sources and technologies with their project, although they do not expect solar-powered commercial planes any time soon" class="blkBorder img-share" height="645" id="i-a5f349ac5521ac46" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/369758CF00000578-3707905-image-a-67_1469503167709.jpg" width="470" /><br />
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<img alt="'There will be passengers very soon in electric airplanes that we will charge on the ground,' Mr Piccard had said when the plane arrived in Cairo" class="blkBorder img-share" height="645" id="i-15d2f372e616eb1" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/36975DAB00000578-3707905-image-m-66_1469503161595.jpg" width="470" /><br />
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Swiss explorers Piccard and Borschberg are also the founders of Solar Impulse, which seeks to bolster support for clean energy</div>
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The final descent into Abu Dhabi marked the end of Solar Impulse's 24,500 mile journey around the world</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The 
Swiss team is campaigning to bolster support for clean energy. The 
propeller-driven aircraft's four engines are powered exclusively by 
energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells built on the plane's 
wings. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Life on board the Solar Impulse 2 was very cramped, with the cockpit measuring just 40.9 square feet (3.8 square metres). </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">This meant that it had enough room for instruments, some food and a reclining chair.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">During
 footage, filmed for Wired, Mr Piccard took a selfie of him and his 
giant plane, before bringing the camera inside the cockpit to show off 
the aircraft's controls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>SOLAR IMPULSE 2'S ROUND THE WORLD JOURNEY</b></span></h3>
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<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The
 globe-circling voyage began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital 
of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and 
Japan. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Piccard and Andre Borschberg took turns piloting the plane on each leg of the journey. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Both trained to stay alert for long stretches of time by practicing meditation and hypnosis.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Borschberg
 set a new endurance record for the longest non-stop solo flight last 
July during a 118-hour trans-Pacific crossing, over five days and five 
nights, from Japan to Hawaii. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">He showed how he can recline in his seat to turn it into a bed, and filmed his modest food supplies.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Piccard said the cockpit had become more like a home.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">He
 said: 'You do everything in that cockpit. You have a seat that you can 
recline in order to sleep flat. You open the seat to go to the toilet, 
you have food either side of the seat, you can heat your food, wash 
yourself with wet wipes and change your clothes.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'Really it is like a little house. When I get out of the cockpit I feel homesick.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> The pilots were only able to sleep for 20 minutes at a time, and used alarms to make sure they did not doze for longer. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Both pilots trained to stay alert for long stretches of time by practicing meditation and hypnosis. </span></div>
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The pilots were met with a huge reception, including a marching band to welcome them to Abu Dhabi</div>
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An aerial image shows Solar Impulse 2 during its landing in Abu Dhabi having finished its round-the-world flight</div>
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Monaco's 
Prince Albert II attends a press conference following the landing
 of the solar-powered plane, alongside State Minister and chief 
executive officer of the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), 
Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber (far right), and pilot Bertrand Piccard</div>
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<img alt="Solar Impulse 2, seen here flying over Egypt's Giza pyramid complex, has successfully completed the first fuel-free flight around the world" class="blkBorder img-share" height="642" id="i-75008d0235cbb6b6" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/36927E8900000578-3707905-Solar_Impulse_2_seen_here_flying_over_Egypt_s_Giza_pyramid_compl-a-38_1469518932827.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Solar Impulse 2, seen here flying over
 Egypt's Giza pyramid complex, has successfully completed the first 
fuel-free flight around the world</div>
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<img alt="Having completed their huge journey around the world, pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg celebrated together " class="blkBorder img-share" height="641" id="i-952252600f254952" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/3697AC2E00000578-3707905-image-a-18_1469518319152.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Having completed their huge journey around the world, pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg celebrated together </div>
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<img alt="Technicians prepared the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft at the Cairo International Airport on July 23 before it took off for its final flight in its round the world journey, an effort which has taken over a year to complete" class="blkBorder img-share" height="613" id="i-26513d635e64d035" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/3sAQzKF8Bff8ca57aded31f02212-3707905-Technicians_prepare_the_solar_powered_Solar_Impulse_2_aircraft_a-a-11_1469518072766.jpg" width="960" /><br />
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Technicians prepared the solar-powered 
Solar Impulse 2 aircraft at the Cairo International Airport on July 23 
before it took off for its final flight in its round the world journey, 
an effort which has taken over a year to complete</div>
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<img alt="The plane flew over Egypt during the penultimate leg of its journey" class="blkBorder img-share" height="496" id="i-930ebd323e5096bf" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/36927E7100000578-3707905-The_plane_flew_over_Egypt_during_the_penultimate_leg_of_its_jour-a-33_1469518631252.jpg" width="470" /><br />
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The plane took off from Abu Dhabi in March 2015 and journeyed around the globe in a landmark voyage of about 24,500 miles</div>
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<img alt="A map shows the route of Solar Impulse 2 around the globe as the plane left Cairo on Sunday to complete the last leg of its journey" class="blkBorder img-share" height="878" id="i-852a5fbc7962d582" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/3sAQzKF8Bff8ca57aded31f01874-3707905-A_map_shows_the_route_of_Solar_Impulse_2_around_the_globe_as_the-a-34_1469518645144.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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A map shows the route of Solar Impulse 2 
around the globe as the plane left Cairo on Sunday to complete the last 
leg of its journey</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOW DOES SOLAR IMPULSE WORK? </span></span>                </h3>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"></span><span class="">Solar
 Impulse 2 is powered by 17,000 solar cells and on-board rechargeable 
lithium batteries, allowing it to fly through the night. </span><span class="mol-style-bold"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"></span><span class="">Its wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet but its light construction keeps its weight to about as much as a car. </span><span class="mol-style-bold"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"></span><span class="">Solar Impulse 2 relies on getting enough solar power during the day to survive the night.</span><span class="mol-style-bold"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"></span><span class="">It is also extremely light - about the weight of a car - and as wide as a passenger jet.</span><span class="mol-style-bold"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"></span><span class="">Both of these combined means it is extremely susceptible to the weather.</span><span class="mol-style-bold"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="mol-style-bold"></span><span class="">In high winds it can struggle to stay aloft at the altitudes necessary to gather sunlight. </span><span class="mol-style-bold"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Excess energy was stored in four batteries during daylight hours to keep the plane flying after dark. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Over
 its entire mission, Solar Impulse 2 cruised at altitudes of up to 5.5 
miles (9 km) and at an average speed of between 12.5 and 25 miles (45 
and 90 km) per hour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">However in high winds, the plane struggled to stay aloft at the altitudes necessary to gather sunlight.  </span></div>
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<img alt="The crew of the solar-powered plane was greeted upon arrival at Al Batin Airport in Abu Dabi to complete its world tour flight" class="blkBorder img-share" height="543" id="i-2f2b4fdd9f2a8a65" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/36970B3600000578-3707905-The_crew_of_the_solar_powered_plane_was_greeted_upon_arrival_at_-a-14_1469502446915.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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The crew of the solar-powered plane was greeted upon arrival at Al Batin Airport in Abu Dabi to complete its world tour flight</div>
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<img alt="Pilot Bertrand Piccard was at the controls of the single-seater when it landed at the Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi" class="blkBorder img-share" height="605" id="i-a8a3c03265df2f9" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/04/3697091F00000578-3707905-image-a-59_1469503096293.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Pilot Bertrand Piccard was at the controls of the single-seater when it landed at the Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The plane had 16 stopovers along the way including in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, the United States, Spain and Egypt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Abu Dhabi's green energy firm, Masdar, is the official host partner of Solar Impulse 2. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Oil-rich Abu Dhabi is investing billions in industry, tourism and renewables to diversify its economy away from oil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Mr
 Borschberg and Mr Piccard have said they want to raise awareness of 
renewable energy sources and technologies with their project, although 
they do not expect solar-powered commercial planes any time soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'There
 will be passengers very soon in electric airplanes that we will charge 
on the ground,' Mr Piccard had said when the plane arrived in Cairo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'On
 the ground you can charge batteries and you can have short haul 
flights, maybe 500 kilometres with 50 people flying in these planes in a
 decade', he predicted.</span></div>
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<img alt="Solar Impulse landed in Cairo earlier this month as it headed to its final stop in Abu Dhabi " class="blkBorder img-share" height="538" id="i-afe5b8b0f0474d7b" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/26/08/36927E6900000578-3707905-Solar_Impulse_landed_in_Cairo_earlier_this_month_as_it_headed_to-a-40_1469519031014.jpg" width="962" /><br />
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Solar Impulse landed in Cairo earlier this month as it headed to its final stop in Abu Dhabi  </div>
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Over its entire mission, Solar Impulse
 2 cruised at altitudes of up to 5.5 miles (9 km) and at an average 
speed between 12.5 and 25 miles per hour</div>
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