U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
High-altitude solar power platform
Abstract
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.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL (United States). George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5351741
- Report Number(s):
- N-92-21546; NASA-TM-103578; NAS-1.15:103578
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; AIRCRAFT; DESIGN; PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES; SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION; AERODYNAMICS; AGRICULTURE; COMPOSITE MATERIALS; CROPS; ENERGY STORAGE; FUEL CELLS; INSECTS; PLANT DISEASES; PROPULSION SYSTEMS; REMOTE SENSING; SOLAR CELLS; SOLAR ENERGY; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; ANIMALS; ARTHROPODS; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; ENERGY; ENERGY SOURCES; EQUIPMENT; FLUID MECHANICS; INVERTEBRATES; MATERIALS; MECHANICS; PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; POWER SUPPLIES; PROPULSION; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; STORAGE; 140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems; 330300 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems; 330600 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Vehicle Design Factors
Citation Formats
Bailey, M D, and Bower, M V. High-altitude solar power platform. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Bailey, M D, & Bower, M V. High-altitude solar power platform. United States.
Bailey, M D, and Bower, M V. 1992.
"High-altitude solar power platform". United States.
@article{osti_5351741,
title = {High-altitude solar power platform},
author = {Bailey, M D and Bower, M V},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5351741},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}