SolAero delivers solar wing for Bye Aerospace atmospheric satellite

SolAero Technologies Corp, a US provider of solar cells for satellite and aerospace applications, has completed and delivered the first solar wing for an "atmospheric satellite" of Colorado-based Bye Aerospace.

Bye Aerospace is working on an atmospheric satellite platform called StratoAirNet. These solar-electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are intended for commercial and defense applications such as Internet service, damage assessment, search and rescue and mapping, for instance.

A medium-altitude proof-of-concept prototype is nearing completion. Integration of the wings and power systems of the 15-metre (49 ft) wing span solar-powered StratoAirNet is due to start in November, SolAero said on Tuesday. Ground and flight tests will then begin.

SolAero's high-efficiency solar cell technologies, integrated on the graphite composite StratoAirNet wing, will deliver about 2,000 W under ideal daylight conditions at altitude, which is sufficient to achieve sustained flight of the solar-electric UAV, according to the announcement.

"The integration of the advanced SolAero solar-cells on the StratoAirNet prototype launches the initial demonstration phase of an entirely new paradigm of highly efficient solar-electric UAVs," said Bye Aerospace chief executive George Bye.

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