BAE Systems has achieved another engineering milestone with the successful test flights of the PHASA-35, a solar-powered, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This innovative platform is designed for extended high-altitude observation and reconnaissance, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional aerial and satellite technologies.
The British-made PHASA-351 drone, a groundbreaking innovation in unmanned aerial systems, has demonstrated impressive capabilities during recent test flights. Developed by aerospace giant BAE Systems, this high-altitude, solar-powered drone is poised to redefine intelligence gathering, potentially replacing costly spy satellites and offering a more flexible alternative for aerial surveillance.
The Falcon Solar, the brainchild of Lasky Design of Budapest, is still only a concept, but there is still a lot of interest in it. According to 2018 data, aviation contributes around one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere every year, which is around 2-2.5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
Spain’s Tekniker is working with ESA on a piece of equipment that could help make future Mars missions more economical. To survive on Mars, future colonists will need to use all available resources as efficiently as possible. This also means recycling wherever possible, and for travel between Earth and Mars, in time the fuel for spacecraft return journeys should be produced on Mars.
Next year, the Swiss national airline will also start buying sustainable jet fuel made from solar energy and carbon dioxide extracted from the atmosphere.