Thursday, April 15, 2010

Long-haul cargo by solar-powered airship?

The future of long-haul cargo could go airborne via the 320-foot-long High Speed Solar Airship (HSSA), principally powered by solar by solar transmission.

A gas envelope would lift the dirigible from sea level to a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet.

The HSSA would be powered by 24,000 square feet of thin-film solar cells for 62.7 KW of rated power that the Utah-based inventor says would gain a boost of 30 percent more solar power efficiency once the airship is above the clouds for more unobstructed sunlight.

Thinner air at that height also mean the HSSA could reach daytime speeds of 182 MPH utilizing a 96-MPH-average jet stream wind speed, and even continue flying at night with a speed of 165 MPH, carrying 60 tons of cargo, and 2 million cubic feet of helium.

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