In 2023, a new solar aircraft might stay in the sky for an entire year without landing.
A US-Spanish aerospace company, Skydweller, will work with the US Navy to improve its uncrewed solar-powered aircraft, capable of staying in the air for days. The new aircraft will be the world’s first pseudo-satellite, meaning it can remain aloft for even until a year and does basically anything a satellite does.
Since the plane can return to Earth anytime, it would not create a problem with space debris, unlike current satellites. The aircraft will also be able to fly autonomously like a drone. There will be a pilot for safety, but not a necessity. Finally, apart from national defense, it can have environmental applications, such as monitoring the use of natural resources and even disaster response, once deployed.
What do you think of the pseudo-satellite aircraft?