2016 At a glance

All the pieces of the puzzle are in place: solarstratos is ready for take-off

As the end of the year approaches, it is time for Raphael and the SolarStratos team to take stock; to assess the vitality of the project and set targets and actions for 2017 while reflecting on recent achievements. And there have been so many achievements this year!

2016 began with an altitude flight aboard an Eco-Light during which Raphael and Pierrick Duvoisin, an engineer from science and technology partner CSEM, climbed to around 7,000 metres to test the effect of altitude on the SolarStratos solar panels.

A few weeks later, the team tested the photovoltaic cells in the stratosphere at 35,000 metres thanks to partner Swiss Strato, who provided a hydrogen balloon that towed the solar cells, along with the famous cow and Swiss Ambassador, Happy Lilly, and a glass of Neuchâtel white wine! The stunning images that returned from the stratosphere were an indication of what is to come when the record-breaking flight gets underway.

The team has carried out numerous other tests throughout the year, notably in Moscow, on Raphael’s space suit that will protect him from cosmic rays and the non-pressurised cockpit. It is not easy to move in such a restricted space, but Raphael and the team trust official partner Zvezda to optimise the suit to ensure the eco-expedition is carried out safely.

2016 also saw the inauguration of the unique three-axis SolarStratos simulator. Unveiled at the Numerik Games Festival in Yverdon-les-Bains in September, this technological marvel not only provides training for the pilots, but acts as a promotional tool as well. It is currently installed at the SolarStratos base at the Payerne Airfield.

The base was built in a month during the autumn and now houses the SolarStratos aeroplane and all the equipment required for the development of the project.

Safety, testing and training are important for the SolarStratos mission, but you also need to know how to have fun! So, at the end of August the SolarStratos Club arranged its first outing and travelled to Bordeaux to experience the Zero-G flights. An unforgettable weightless moment for all that attended!

2016 closed on a high with the Roll Out of the plane; a great event for the whole team and our 300 guests that included personalities, ambassadors, representatives of local and national authorities and our partners. Media coverage of the event was exceptional and demonstrated the immense public interest in the stratospheric, solar and ‘clean’ adventure that we have embarked on.

The new year is set to be equally exciting with the first test flights on the agenda; these are a crucial step towards obtaining the final authorisation to fly, participate in events and train towards our record-breaking flight. We will present our 2017 activities in detail at the beginning of the year.

In the meantime, we thank you for your support and passion and look forward to continuing to share this exceptional adventure with you.

Happy Holidays!

Raphael and the SolarStratos team.

Pictures: © SolarStratos / Zeppelin

The SolarStratos team is in the final stretch ahead of the official presentation of its solar aircraft to the world. November has arrived, and this is the month when the Roll Out will take place. The event will take place on December 7, in the SolarStratos base on the Payerne airfield. By then the aircraft must be ready and the base built and decorated in order to welcome all guests and media.

The construction of the base began on September 29 by installing large concrete blocs as ballast. Then all just happened at unbelievable speed in less than a month and now the building that will host the first two-seater solar airplane in the world is well out of the ground! It remains only to be  decorated before the aircraft is delivered.

Concerning the solar bird, its construction is also nearing completion. It is adorned with a beautiful white paint, which aims to ensure protection and optimum lightweightness while having a modern look. The wings are now closed and they have gone through vibration, stress and heat tests. They are currently with our partner CSEM for the installation of the photovoltaic cells. Meanwhile, the fuselage is also being finalized. Electronic tests are successful (for the engineers who read us, imagine that there are nearly 100 A which pass through 24 wires in a carbon tube of only 2 cm in diameter!); it’s time to fill the fuselage with electronics and wiring, engine, batteries, propeller, cockpit instruments, seats … Once everything is finished, the plane will be transported in a trailer to Payerne where the final assembly will be done!

Raphael and his team are on track to achieve the first major step in the writing of the SolarStratos eco-adventure. Soon, the helio-stratospheric aircraft will not only be a synthetic image, but a real airplane! We look forward December 7, and to share this historic moment!

Thank you for your support! See you soon !
Raphael and the SolarStratos team

Within a week period, SolarStratos could get in the skin of an astronaut and of a solar-stratonaute! So many emotions in so few days!

SolarStratos in astronaut mode

The first memorable experience of the SolarStratos Club was held from August 25 to 27th in Bordeaux, France. The SolarNavigators joined Raphael’s team to live the first weightless trip of the Club, thanks to a partnership with Novespace, the company of the SolarStratos‘ patron, the French astronaut Jean-François Clervoy. Raphael, Roland Loos (new CEO of SolarStratos) and four Club members had the chance to experience a unique adventure aboard an A310 specially equipped for parabolic flights. The SolarStratos team was able to experiment 15 parabolas: one Martian, two lunar and 12 in total weightlessness (or Zero-G). An unforgettable moment of life for all! Beyond the pure joy of moving as Neil Armstrong or Claude Nicollier, Raphael was able to test medical equipment on behalf of our partner CSEM, under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Schoettker, professor at the University of Lausanne, chief doctor of anesthesiology at CHUV (Lausanne, Switzerland) and doctor of the SolarStratos mission.

We look froward for the next Zero-G experience in 2017! Perhaps will you also be part of it? Join our Club!

Inauguration of the simulator at Numerik Games festival

Barely a week after back down on land following the Zero-G experience, Raphael and his team inaugurated their 3-axis simulator at the 1st edition of the Numerik Games festival in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. On September 2, before a crowd of guests, journalists and bystanders, Raphael presented in world premiere this piece of technology that now allows him to train to fly at very high altitudes. This simulator is unique worldwide and was built thanks to our Partners PC-Aero, DLR and Carbon Wacker. Reserved for the pilots of the mission (Raphael and Thierry Plojoux), the cockpit of the simulator will also accommodate some SolarStratos Club members (from the SolarPilot level). Having fun while supporting our eco-expedition, that’s also part of being a Club member!

A year to end in a blaze of glory

The end of the year should be stratospheric! Raphael and his team hope to showcase the aircraft by the end of the year. So keep on following us to live this presentation that will have a global impact! And thank you again to everyone for your support!

Welcome behind the scenes of SolarStratos! Follow the work and highlights of the team and Raphaël Domjan via our StratosTime, a short video made by Stéphane, our producer and director!

This summer we are taking you to Moscow, to our partner Zvezda. Raphaël and Roland went there to test the spacesuit Sokol (“Falcon” in Russian), which our eco-explorer will wear when reaching the stratosphere. Safety tests of the suit’s Life Support System have been carried out. Technical tests of the emergency system (enabling injecting a minimum of oxygen into the spacesuit, while at the same time maintaining closed-circuit circulation) were also carried out and everything went extremely well. Other adjustments are currently being made and Raphaël will be able conduct the next tests in the fall. You can follow of all this in pictures!

Summer has been playing hard to get. Now that it’s finally here, we hope you can take full advantage of it to have fun and relax. We’ll catch up with you again soon so you can find out about the newest advancements and developments of SolarStratos.

Have a great summer and thank you for your enthusiasm.

After 2 years of loyal service, the SolarStratos website came under a digital scalpel and completely changed its design. The objective was to give a new user experience, both in terms of navigation and aesthetics. Particular attention was paid to the highlighting of the SolarStratos Club because SolarStratos is not the work of a small group of crazy adventurers but the eco-exploration of everyone! We hope you will enjoy (re-)discovering our mission through this new digital design.

Also, in order to mark the occasion of the redesign of the website, we are launching at the same time our teaser! This is a short video that aims to inspire web users, like Hollywood movie trailers. The incredible pictures and sound design, created by our partners Creatorz Deitz and Wavestudios, will make you travel to the edge of space!

The video is posted on our Facebook page with a contest to earn some visits of the solar airplane with the team. Participation is simple. Just “like” the page. Do not wait any longer and try your hand! The draw among all the likes of the page will be held on June 30 at noon.

Good surfing and thank you for your unfailing support! Do not hesitate to massively share our teaser and all good luck for the contest!

Raphael and the SolarStratos Team

It is an information that we wanted to share for a long time : we managed our first flight into the stratosphere! Saturday, May 7 at 9:45 am, the nacelle of our friends from Swiss Strato has taken off from Châtel-St-Denis with special passengers on board: two photovoltaic cells, a glass of white wine from Neuchâtel and … the famous cow Happy Lilly, Swiss ambassador and muse of Présence Suisse. After about 2 hours of ascension, the Swiss symbols have peaked at around 35’500 meters before the balloon exploded. Less than an hour later, thanks to the GPS installed in the nacelle, we were able to retrieve its content and experience the journey … My friends, what amazing images! And what exciting data for the scientists of the CSEM, our scientific partner, and our eco-exploration!

More down to earth but equally important for us, the Lausanne digital communication agency Breew joined our adventure as an Official Supplier. With the expertise of the boss, Thierry Weber, and his team, we will gain altitude on Mark Zuckerberg’s network and the Twittosphere! Thank you and welcome aboard SolarStratos, Breew!

See you in June for more adventures. Our little fingers tell us that two other launches will take place. Here are two clues: “web” and “synthesis”.

Thank you again for your support and feel free to share our adventures on social networks!

Raphael and the SolarStratos team

What a dynamic atmosphere at our partner PC-Aero in Germany! 3 screens have been mounted on the SolarStratos simulator, whose construction is coming to an end. We look forward to our future test flights with this technological gem!

A propos tests on the simulator, we were relieved to see that the test-spacesuit received from our Russian friends at Zvezda entered the cockpit as we did not know its exact dimensions (when pressurized) during the design of our plane. Raphael felt very well in his comfortable armor. While freedom of movement is not optimal yet, we are confident that we will succeed in creating an ideal spacesuit for our flights in the stratosphere.

See you in May for the rest of our adventures! Something tells us that two launches will occure. Here are two clues: “web” and “synthesis”. Follow us for more info!

Thank you for your support and share our eco-adventure without moderation!
Raphael and the SolarStratos team

Как поживаетеi ¹ ? We hope you had a good Easter weekend and you enjoy the beginning of Spring, marking the renewal of life. Regarding SolarStratos, days are passing and are not alike. This has happened things during this March!

The most exciting moment was our trip to Moscow with Michael Lopez-Alegria, our flight director, Thierry Plojoux and Roland Loss, two new members of our team. I was able to test there the spacesuit and already project a little bit in the stratosphere. Thanks to Zvezda for their trust and their hospitality! This trip is an important step in the history of SolarStratos.

¹ «How are you doing», in russian

A few weeks ago, with our partner the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), we visited our other partner, PC-Aero, in Munich. During this Bavarian stay, we worked on the design of the photovoltaic cells. It’s great to see two partners work together for the same purpose, around our project. Thanks to them !

Finally, we welcome aboard two new partners: the DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt), the German Space Agency, and Carbon and Wacker. The agency will support us on issues related to flights at very high altitudes. As for Carbon Wacker, the company specialized in the production of carbon components becomes one of our Official Suppliers. Thanks to both of them for their support!

See you in a month for the rest of our adventures!

Solar greetings,
Raphael and the SolarStratos Team

Dear Partners, Dear Friends,

Late David Bowie sang „Starman“ for the first time in 1972. 44 years later, the song continues to resonate around the world, but with particular taste and sound. The author left our world to join the stars on January 10, 2016. Barely a month later, on February 4, our dear godfather Edgar Mitchell also bowed out. “This is Major Mitchell to Ground Control, the stars look very different today.” We are sad, but also happy and honored to have been able to cross the path of this great man, this lunar walker. We wanted to start this newsletter by giving him this tribute. Thank you, Edgar, for your support, now eternal. You will always be with us, whether on land or in the stratosphere.

This news somewhat messed us, but life goes on and the adventure of SolarStratos too.
We can tell you that searches for the future hangar of the aircraft SolarStratos are going well. We look forward to soon announcing where the “home-base” of the HB-SXA will be located!

Again thank you for your support and do not hesitate to forward our news to your loved ones!

See you soon for the rest of our solar-stratospheric adventures!
Raphaël and the SolarStratos Team

Dear Partners, Dear Friends,

The year started well for SolarStratos and promises lots of news to share with you! To retain this January: our first altitude flight with an Eco-Light along with Pierrick Duvoisin from CSEM at over 7,000 meters altitude. This flight was a success to the extent that we could test the dynamic effect on the solar cells developed by our partner CSEM.

This first step will help to develop a model for calculating the evolution of the solar cell temperatures in the stratosphere. The next step is to get closer to space at more than 130,000 feet (approx. 40,000 meters) with a balloon this time! The images will definitely be amazing!

Regarding the aircraft construction, I am pleased to inform you that the fuselage is complete. The time is now to develop the wings.

Keep on following our adventures and thank you for your support!

Raphael and the SolarStratos Team