Celabrating SolarStratos
Our partners are deeply involved in the development of our project and Fischer Connectors has recently given us a very visual example of the excellent support we receive, decorating their St Prex façade in SolarStratos colours. So now, if you take the train from Geneva to Lausanne, keep an eye open for the new look!
Meanwhile in Payerne, the optimisation work continues apace, and the team is eager to roll the plane out of the hangar and to see it flying again. Stay posted for an update soon.
A toasty spacesuit
Our partner, Zvezda, has further developed the Sokol 2 spacesuit that Raphael Domjan will wear to fly the plane to include an integrated heating system. They have also insulated the head and hands, reinforced the connectors, developed a basic cockpit simulator and integrated a “Life Support” system that will assist the pilot during the stratospheric flight.
At the end of January in Moscow, Zvezda presented the developments to the SolarStratos team, including our expert astronaut, Jean-Francois Clervoy. Unfortunately, Raphael had the flu and couldn’t complete the tests during this visit. These will be rescheduled for the very near future.
What defines the stratosphere ?
Raphael Domjan and SolarStratos are on a mission to conquer the stratosphere, but do we know what really defines it? Borders in space are not formally defined. NASA, for example, has historically called the moment when a returning spaceship is at 400,000 feet or 130km. Otherwise, to be called an astronaut, you have to have flown at an altitude of over 100kms. As a point of reference, the International Space Station is situated at an average altitude of 400km.
The stratosphere extends on average from 12-15km up to about 50km of altitude. Today, the tendency is to refer to ‘near space’ to define the area from 16-18 km to 100 km, this is the area between where aircraft fly (flight level 600-60,000 feet or approx. 20 km, above which there is no longer air control) and 100 km (the lowest limit for satellites to orbit). Currently only space rockets and balloons navigate this area, there is very little activity.
This is our destination. Our mission is to fly in this space using solar power as there is not enough oxygen to power aircraft engines operating on hydrocarbons. From 16,000 m, Raphael will be flying in the stratosphere with more than 95% of the atmosphere beneath him.
Press review and statistics
SolarStratos enjoyed significant media coverage in 2018 with several news and behind the scenes feature stories. Raphael Domjan and the SolarStratos team were also very active across the project’s social media channels. Click on the link for the 2018 media highlights.
Raphael’s public lecture in Geneva
On 21 March, Raphael Domjan will give a public lecture titled ‘From the ocean to the stratosphere powered by solar energy’ at the Madeleine theatre in Geneva. Our eco-explorer will present the story of PlanetSolar, the first ever boat to go around the world powered by solar energy. He will also present the SolarStratos mission that combines a dream, innovation and energy efficiency and demonstrate the potential of renewable energy. For more information and to attend, please click here.
Lighter wings
We’ve learned a lot last year, and our project benefits from this knowledge. As a result, SolarStratos’ wings will from now on be equipped with “new generation” winglets, who will help save 10 kilos per wing! This will help reduce the consumption of energy, and therefore the number and volume of batteries needed. Our goal is always to be as light as possible, and the weight of the aircraft should not exceed 600 kg, including the pilot.
A wider scope
Thanks to its new wings, SolarStratos will gain two meters of wingspan, which is a fair percentage! The new winglets, 1 meter long each, are twice as long as they used to be. These transformations will allow the solar aircraft to gain in stability and performance. The new wing design will also ensure better airflow and reduce drag and therefore energy consumption.
Retractable landing gear
SolarStratos’ current landing gear is fixed, but this is all about to change, thanks to our new retractable landing gear. This will reduce drag and improve the plane’s performances. The retractable gear will also improve the speed and overall flying performances of the plane.
Update on our flight simulator
Much of our testing takes place onboard a flight simulator designed specifically for SolarStratos. Constantly updated in order to reflect the latest updates on the « real » plane, the flight simulator uses a software called X-Plane, making it possible, for example, to continuously calculate the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft. It helps our pilot to learn to fly this unique airplane and take the right decisions whilst flying « for real ».
Nobel Prize in Chemistry visits SolarStratos
Professor Jacques Dubochet, 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry, visited our base and spent an interesting time with our team members in Payerne.
We have lost a dear friend
Jean Revillard, official photographer of SolarStratos, died on January 4, 2019 in Huelgoat, France, during a photo shooting session. Winner of two World Press Photo awards in 2008 and 2009, Jean joined our team in 2017. Previously the SolarImpulse photographer, he was passionate about aeronautics and concerned about the environment; our project allowed him to combine these two elements. We miss him very much, and he will always remain in our hearts!
What lies ahead in 2019
2019 will be a decisive year, with crucial tests on our new wings, our first double-handed flights, medium altitude flights, and Raphaël’s first flights in command…
Our team’s objectives are clear in the conquest of the stratosphere. The plane must be able to set the first records during this pivotal year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the SolarStratos team. May 2019 be full of energy, health and prosperity!
And may your personal and professional projects be successful. We thank you for accompanying us throughout the year and supporting our stratospheric adventure.
To relive the SolarStratos 2018 highlights, we offer you the below – Best wishes
New wings for our next flights
Last summer’s technical incident that saw the left wing break during a stress test at the SolarStratos Base in Payerne gave our technical partners and scientists a lot to think about. The last few months have been dedicated to adapting solutions and creating new wings capable of withstanding the altitude.
These are currently in build and while the failure put us behind schedule, it has allowed us to add solar cells and make our wings even more efficient with increased energy capacity. We anticipate fitting the new wings to SolarStratos and starting to test them at the beginning of 2019.
Saving weight, a full-time quest
To fly our solar aircraft in the stratosphere means it has to be as light as possible while maintaining the dynamics required for the climb to high altitude where the pressure decreases the higher you go, until there is none at all. The various tests and flights carried out at low altitude have demonstrated that there is still work to do for the SolarStratos aircraft to reach the stratosphere. Our technical efforts are focused on improving the performance of the aircraft without increasing its weight – a permanent challenge!
Currently the SolarStratos weighs in at 400kg, the team has managed to shed some weight and plans to lose some more.
New spacesuit tests
The all-important spacesuit will undergo a new round of tests at the beginning of 2019 at the home of our official partner, Zvezda, in Moscow. The tests will include checking that the various external connections that tether the spacesuit to the aircraft are reliable and resistant. With temperatures approaching -70 degrees in the stratosphere, the spacesuit is central to the survival of our pilot, any incident would have instantaneous and fatal results.
SolarStratos visit the Electronica Trade Fair in Munich
SolarStratos recently spent a week at the Electronica Trade Fair in Munich, an international trade fair for electronic components, systems and applications.
Invited by official partner, Fischer Connectors, Raphael Domjan and the SolarStratos team organised daily flight simulator demonstrations for guests of the event. Being at the trade fair gave the team the opportunity to witness the visitors’ enthusiasm for the stratospheric project first hand.
Coming up in 2019
With wing tests, two-man test flights and medium altitude flights on the agenda, plus Raphael Domjan taking the controls for the first time, 2019 will be a defining year. For the team the objectives are clear: the aircraft must be in a position to establish its first records during this pivotal year.
The Solar Adventure Online Shop Is Open For Business!
The new SolarStratos online shop opens on the 1st of December – don’t miss out on dressing in the colours of the pioneering project. There are clothes and accessories and plenty of ideas for Christmas presents!
SolarStratos team welcomes the pioneers to Payerne
SolarStratos welcomed some of the world’s solar energy pioneers and adventurers to their base in Payerne recently for an evening presentation of the SolarStratos aircraft. The star-studded group included Fred To, inventor of Solar One, Anne Quéméré, sailor, Janice Brown, Marshall Mc Cready and Steven Ptacek of Solar Challenger, Marcelo Da Luz of Power One and Erwann Le Rouzic of PlanetSolar.
The group, accompanied by Raphael Domjan, also visited SolarStratos’ scientific partner, the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), where they were welcomed by Professor Christophe Ballif. And made a final stop at the Laténium Museum in Neuchatel before heading back to the SolarStratos base in Payerne.
New official supplier
SolarStratos welcomes Steiger Participations SA to the project; a new official supplier, which develops machines capable of knitting carbon fibers in 3D and lightening certain parts of our solar aircraft.
Raphael Domjan and his team would like to take this opportunity to thank all the SolarStratos partners, without whom the project to fly in the stratosphere would not have got off the ground. Thank you all for your loyalty and support.
The book
At last a dedicated history of solar-powered vehicles has been written! This epic which traces the evolution of transport, pioneered by people that dare to dream of exploring the world without the use of fossil fuels, is called “Pioneers and Adventurers of Solar Energy” and was co-authored by Raphaelle Javet and Raphael Domjan. The book describes the evolution of solar transport from development to prototype: cars, boats, aircrafts all feature, as does the SolarStratos project.
After significant research, Raphaelle Javet, archaeologist, historian and director of the PlanetSolar Foundation, has created an exceptional read, published by Editions Favre.
Grand opening and Gala evening
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the grand opening of the “Pioneers and Adventurers of Solar Energy” exhibition at the PlanetSolar Foundation hosted by the Fairmont Montreux Palace Hotel. Foundation director, Raphaelle Javet, our very own eco-explorer and Foundation president, Raphael Domjan, and a group of solar energy pioneers gave the Prince a preview of the exhibition.
Prince Albert II, Raphael Domjan and Gildo Pallanca Pastore, President of the Monaco Explorer Club, presented the ‘Monaco Explorer’s Club Award’ to Fred To, the designer of Solar One, the first solar aircraft in the history of the world.
The opening gala evening was attended by 350 guests and supporters of the Foundation and punctuated by historic images of the solar vehicles and live anecdotes from the pioneers themselves.
The exhibition is open at the Marin Centre from October 30 to November 17, 2018.
Raphaël Domjan meets the Perlan project team
During their recent stay in Argentina, Raphaël Domjan and Franck Borrmann, from the SolarStratos technical team, and Raphaëlle Javet, the PlanetSolar Foundation director, had the opportunity to meet the Perlan Mission II team.
The meeting in Patagonia was a chance to share and discuss the parallels between the two stratospheric projects. The teams identified several common threads, mainly centred on the technical challenges of the projects, and Raphaël was able to gain the detailed insights of a highly motivated and dynamic team.
The magnificent Perlan Mission I project started in 2006 with Steve Fossett when the team broke the existing altitude record for gliders. Today, a new, pressurised glider, the Perlan Mission II, has been designed to break new records, reaching the polar stratospheric vortices that exist at low latitudes. While the SolarStratos team was in Argentina, Perlan II broke a new record under tow, climbing to more than 40,000ft (12,192 m), beating the 30,000 ft (9,144 m) former record. An historic moment!
Since the 27 August, the glider has broken the record again, posting an all-time altitude record for a glider of 76,000 ft (over 23,000 m) – a monumental achievement for this extraordinary aeronautical project.
SolarStratos wing broken during resistance testing
One of the wings of the stratospheric solar aircraft was damaged during the ground resistance tests carried out at the Payerne base this summer, causing a slight delay to the operations schedule.
But as Raphaël says: “Our aircraft is a one of a kind prototype, designed to fly to the stratosphere fuelled by solar energy alone; a feat that has never been achieved before. This pioneering spirit presents a real technological challenge and forces us into unchartered territory. Risks are integral to the project, even though our goal is to anticipate and limit them as much as possible, hence doing a lot of testing.”
SolarStratos is a unique prototype made of carbon fibre. It is an experimental aircraft that is extremely fragile and sensitive. The test that the team was running when the wing failed, was to gradually increase the load on the wings, artificially, in order to simulate an extreme flight situation with two pilots onboard.
Since the aircraft was put into service a year ago, SolarStratos has successfully completed 15 flights with test pilot, Damien Hischier, at the controls. This first phase has given the team a lot of material to learn from which will prove invaluable for the second phase of the project.
The 100th anniversary of the Raid Latécoère
Godfather of the 2018 edition of the Raid Latécoère-Aéropostale, Raphaël recently took off from Toulouse for the 5,000 km journey to Dakar in a small single engine plane. The entire support team is made of Philippe Pilloud, Raphaëlle Javet, Roland Loos, Sacha Gasteiner as well as the French journalist Eric Loizeau.
This annual event that attracts pilots of legendary aircraft is celebrating its 100th year. You can follow Raphaël’s adventures here: http://www.raid-latecoere.org/centenaire-du-raid/ – he is due to arrive in Dakar on the 9 October.
End of a thrilling year
The end of 2018 promises to be exciting with the inauguration of the PlanetSolar Foundation’s exhibition dedicated to solar energy pioneers and adventurers, plus there will be further tests on the spacesuit to look forward to by our partner Zvezda.
In 2019, the SolarStratos project will ramp up again, with two-pilot test flights on the agenda, and hopefully, some records!
Stratospheric greetings to you!
The SolarStratos team
Experience The Solarstratos Aircraft Through The Eyes Of Our Test Pilot
The solar aircraft is progressing wellThe solar aircraft is progressing well
The SolarStratos project has been developing positively since June with regular test flights over La Broye giving the test pilot ample opportunity to get a sense of the behaviour of the solar airplane. The flights also allow for the changes that were made over the winter to be checked and tested. So far, the adjustments that were made have been convincing and offer solid prospects in terms of flight duration and altitude.
Test piloting a solar aircraft is a job like no other
Damien Hischier, test pilot for SolarStratos, has a very unusual job. It is exciting, risky and challenging on a daily basis. In the following interview, we meet a man who is out of the ordinary…
Damian – what is you background and how did you become a test pilot?
Originally, I was an airline pilot, then I transitioned to a business jet pilot. After that I went to Africa to be a ‘bush pilot’. And now I’m a test pilot. I’ve tested around 140 different aircraft, including a number of prototypes. Piloting a new plane is always a significant challenge, but that is what I enjoy.
What do you think of the SolarStratos aircraft?
The project really fascinates me from an aeronautical point of view, but also because of the values that the project conveys. I am a supporter of sustainable development and new technologies and this project combines these two principals.
What are the particularities of this project from a pilot’s point of view?
Well it is really experimental. It flies very slowly and has a large wingspan, so high inertia. It is also an excellent glider. At the start of the project we had a descent rate of one metre per 38 metres travelled, which was clearly insufficient. Imagine a descent from the stratosphere at that rate! We installed an airbrake that works very well, so now we can descend much faster. Dozens of other details have been modified and tested successfully.
What are the objectives of these test flights?
Every time we fly, we change the ’flight envelope’. That means we push the boundaries each time, that could include more complex manoeuvres, longer flight time or higher altitude. The ultimate goal is to evolve the plane and make it safe so that Raphael can take over the controls
And what are the next steps?
We must now define the minimum flight speed, determine the ideal climb angle and calculate the energy needed to climb. We know all the theoretical data, but it is crucial to validate the engineering calculations against practical tests.
How do you analyse the evolution of the project?
Last year, we flew three flights before the plane went into the yard for major modifications during the winter. Since the spring, the handling of the plane is much better and I’m very happy with the way the project is evolving. The SolarStratos team is very competent and we are moving in the right direction. My confidence increases after every flight and soon I will be in a position to train Raphael and hand over the controls.
The Explorers Club visits à Payerne
The Swiss Chapter of the famous Explorers Club, created in March 2018, met for the first time in Switzerland on Thursday 14 June. The Explorers Club is an historical institution, founded in New York in 1905. It boasts many great explorers amongst its members. Raphael Domjan and his team welcomed the Swiss Chapter at the SolarStratos base for their inaugural meeting, attended by a delegation from the USA, that included Explorers Club president, Richard Wiese, former president Lorie Karnath and board director Damien Leloup.
1’000’000 views !
If you are reading this newsletter, then it is safe to assume that you are one of the one million people who watched the PlanetSolar Foundation video, dedicated to the first solar-powered boat to circumnavigate the globe and including some insight on the eco-explorations of the SolarStratos mission. Thanks to you, we have reached one million views! https://www.facebook.com/PlanetSolar/videos/1898813013502978/
Summer is here !
The temperature is rising in Switzerland and summer is here. We will be making the most of the warmer weather to continue with the test flights until the end of June and after that we’ll all be going on holiday for a month!
Raphael Domjan and the SolarStratos team wish you a pleasant summer and look forward to seeing you again in the autumn.
Happy holidays to you all!
A New Round Of Test Flights Are Underway In Payerne
Test flights have resumed at the Payerne base with test pilot, Damian Hischier, at the controls of the solar aircraft. He will hand over to Raphaël Domjan this summer for a first round of take-offs and solo flights at low altitude. During these trials, the team will test the modifications made over the winter and Raphaël will get a chance to transition from simulator to flying SolarStratos in real conditions. Getting back in the air is a crucial step for the team in the evolution of the project and its future records.
New partners have joined SolarStratos
SolarStratos is delighted to announce two new partners and welcomes them to their ground-breaking adventure:
SUNPOWER, energy partner to the project, is a company focussed on innovative solar solutions, including photovoltaic cells
SWISS, the national airline serving more than 100 destinations and part of the Lufthansa Group, a member of the Star Alliance
PEMSA is an employment agency in construction
The SolarStratos team welcomes them and thanks them for their trust, the team would also like to thank all existing partners and Club members for their continued unconditional support.
A distinguished guest at our base in Payerne
French astronaut, Thomas Pesquet, paid a visit to the SolarStratos team in Payerne recently: “I met him at the Espace Gruyere 20th anniversary,” said Raphaël. “He was giving a lecture in front of 2,300 people. We did a round table together which was very nice, and I invited him to visit us in Payerne. He came the next day!”
The European Space Agency astronaut was intrigued by the solar aircraft and spoke about the project with Raphaël in great detail: “He was passionate about our project, he wanted to see everything, including the space suit, the smell of which reminded him of his most recent trip into space!”
Forum des 100 – Beautiful presentation in the presence of a panel of prestigious guests
Raphaël was recently invited to speak at the Forum of the 100, the theme of which was ‘reinventing mobility’. He presented the SolarStratos Mission to the 800 personalities present, including Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, Vaud State Councillors Nuria Gorité and Pascal Broulis, and Nobel Prize winner Jacques Dubochet. A magnificent opportunity for our eco-explorer to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies in tomorrow’s mobility.
The Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) stressed the importance of Swiss environmental projects in relation to future mobility and sustainable development. She also recalled the Confederation’s support for ambitious projects, such as the SolarStratos Mission, and said that she was looking forward to seeing the solar plane for real, on its base in Payerne.
Partner reception in Payerne
SolarStratos hosted a celebration at the base in Payerne on the 25 May for the team’s partners. The friendly gathering was an opportunity to celebrate the relaunch of the test flights and for Raphaël to thank the partners for their support face to face. Without them, the SolarStratos project would never have seen the light of day.
The evening also gave Raphaelle Javet, director of the PlanetSolar Foundation, a chance to present the Solar Vehicles Exhibition at the heart of the SolarStratos base.
Stratospheric greetings to you!
The SolarStratos team
Sub 53 degrees
Raphaël Domjan recently underwent a fresh round of decompression tests in an altitude chamber with mixed results. Dressed in his Sokol-KV2 solar space suit and approaching 15,000 metres and minus 53 degrees, the stratonaut started to feel the sub freezing temperatures on his right foot. The technical and the medical team, in agreement with Raphaël, decided to abort the mission for security reasons. Raphaël and the team were disappointed not to have reached the target altitude for the record flight, but on the other hand, identifying this technical issue now means that Zvezda can action the necessary improvements ahead of new tests in Moscow later this year.
The SolarPlanet Foundation becomes the PlanetSolar Foundation
Created in 2007 by the masterminds of the PlanetSolar project, the foundation, formely known as the SolarPlanet Foundation, is changing its name to that of the first solar energy world tour, PlanetSolar Foundation. Based in Yverdon-les-Bains, the Foundation supports projects focussed on sustainable development.
A team, supported by Raphaël Domjan, works to promote sustainable development and the use of renewable energies in Switzerland and around the world.
A model of Solar One in Yverdon-les-bains
Mr Fred To has donated the original model and plans of Solar One, the first solar plane to fly, to Raphaël Domjan and the PlanetSolar Foundation.
The solar plane was built by Mr To, David Williams and their small team in the seventies in what became a race between American teams for the first solar flight. They won the bet by being the first to fly on 19 December 1978, taking off from the English airfield, Lasham. Other exhibition flights took place in 1979 in front of the world’s press.
For the record, the model plane was designed before the completion of the aircraft and the wings are painted black to simulate solar cells, while on Solar One, the cells did not cover the entire wing. Due to the cost, only part of the wing close to the fuselage was lined with solar panels.
TEst flights resume
With the latest developments completed, the first test flights of the year will begin in Berlin and in mid-May, once SolarStratos is back in Payerne, these will increase in intensity.
SolarStratos and risk management
Through experimentation and concrete actions eco-exploration such as the SolarStratos mission serves to develop the potential for positive change in favour of the environment. Through SolarStratos, Raphaël Domjan and his team want to prove that the use of solar energy is possible in extreme conditions. Extreme conditions come with risk and inevitably, risk management. For Raphaël Domjan, the SolarStratos pilot, the primary risk is flying at an altitude of 25,000 metres in temperatures of around minus 70 degrees centigrade in a non-pressurised solar plane with no extraction option and dressed in a solar space suit.
The main risks are well known and management of these has been taken into account by the SolarStratos team and its scientific and technical partners from the outset. Probability, severity and consequences are integral to the development of the project and many tests have been done, are being done and will be done to minimise these risks. Whether it is the design of the solar plane, the space suit or medically, everything is set up to tend towards zero risk, even though that does not exist in eco-exploration or a project as innovative as SolarStratos.
Stratospheric greetings to you!
The SolarStratos team
On a mission to Moscow
At the time of writing, Raphael Domjan and a few other members of the team are in Russia, at the offices of their partner, Zvezda, where they are testing the solar space suit that Raphael plans to wear for his voyage into the stratosphere. The tests, that simulate a 25,000-metre flight at a temperature of -75 degrees Celsius, are being conducted in an altitude chamber with full medical monitoring by the SolarStratos doctor and Zvezda teams.
During their trip, the team will take the opportunity to present SolarStratos, the Mission’s ambitious goal and the know-how surrounding the eco-exploration, at the Swiss Embassy in Moscow, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University and to Russian cosmonauts.
A revolutionary spacesuit
The solar space suit is central to a successful SolarStratos Mission, not only must it protect Raphael by regulating the temperature and pressure, but it also needs to shield him from solar radiation and provide him with Oxygen. Not forgetting the fact that he also requires a maximum of mobility to steer the aircraft.
The space suit, Sokol-KV2, developed by our partner Zvezda, is currently used by cosmonauts and astronauts as a survival suit in the event of depressurisation onboard Soyuz. Sokol means « launch – and reentry suit ». It is being customised for SolarStratos’ unique set of requirements. With limited energy onboard, the SolarStratos suit will be powered by the solar energy harvested by the aircraft during its climb into the stratosphere and will have two major advantages: a very low energy consumption and – at 30kgs – it is very light weight.
Constantly evolving
Our solar aircraft spent the winter in Berlin, Germany, undergoing some improvements and adjustments, including a new horizontal stabiliser that has reduced the overall weight by 1kg, larger landing gear that will give better stability and allow for a larger propeller, and airbrakes. Structural elements of the wings have also been strengthened and rigidity testing is currently underway.
First tandem flight
Our solar plane will be back in Payerne, Switzerland, in May and ready for action! The plan is to resume flying with medium-term goals of achieving our first tandem flight, reaching 3,000 metres, and putting Raphael on the controls. By the end of the year, we aim to be flying at 10,000 metres above sea level. This will make us the highest manned solar and electric aircraft in history.
Stratospheric greetings to you!
The SolarStratos team
