Everything You Need to Know About Solar Impulse
By Jack Linshi
The Solar Impulse 2, a plane attempting to fly around the world using solar power, was forced to land Monday in Nagoya, Japan due to inclement weather.
The experimental aircraft — flown and financed by Swiss businessman and pilot André Borschberg — is now two months into its quest to become the first solar-powered plane to circumnavigate the Earth.
Wait. Is that even possible?
Yes. But first off, it's important to note that Solar Impulse's trip around the globe isn't nonstop. There are several scheduled stops along the way after the initial departure from Abu Dhabi in March. Solar Impulse has already made stops in Oman, India, Myanmar and China, where it took off from Nanjing on Sunday.
But instead of landing in Japan on Monday, Solar Impulse planned to land five days later in Hawaii as a pitstop during its trans-Pacific leg. After that, Solar Impulse plans to make stops in three U.S. cities before crossing the Atlantic and returning to Abu Dhabi by late July or early August 2015.
Meet the Solar-Powered Plane That Will Fly Around the World
The Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane, flies over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi during preparations for next month's round-the-world flight on Feb. 26, 2015.
Solar Impulse/Revillard/Rezo.ch/Reuters
Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on Feb. 26, 2015 ahead of a planned round-the-world tour to promote alternative energy.
Solar Impulse/AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse 2, the second solar powered aircraft created by Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will make the first round-the-world solar flight in 2015. On June 2, 2014, test pilot Markus Scherberg took the aircraft, which has "...the wingspan of a jumbo jet and the weight of a car" on its inaugural flight.
Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse 2/AP
German test pilot Markus Scherdel prepares for take-off in the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft on its maiden flight at its base in Payerne June 2, 2014.
Denis Balibouse—Reuters
Solar Impulse 2 takes off during its maiden flight from Payerne on June 2, 2014.
Laurent Gillieron—Reuters
German test pilot Markus Scherdel steers Solar Impulse 2 on its maiden flight from its base in Payerne on June 2, 2014.
Laurent Gillieron—EPA
From left: Solar Impulse co-founder Bertrand Piccard congratulates German test pilot Markus Scherdel after Solar Impulse 2's maiden flight from Payerne on June 2, 2014.
Fabrice Coffrini—AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype, which preceded Solar Impulse 2, is reassembled on April 5, 2013 after arriving from Switzerland. The aircraft flew across America in stages over May to July from San Francisco to Washington D.C. and New York City.
Fred Merz—Solar Impulse/Polaris
Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane.
Seven years of intensive work, calculations and tests by a team of 70 people and 80 partners contributed to producing the carbon fiber airplane.
By day the solar cells recharge the 400kg lithium batteries allowing the plane to fly at night.
Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard testing equipment of Solar Impulse HB-SIA on April 1, 2013 in Moffett, Calif.
Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/Polaris
Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is getting prepared for its 6th test flight from Moffett Airfield at the Ames Research Center of NASA after being reassembled, April 23, 2013, in Mountain View, Calif.
Niels Ackermann—Rezo/Solar Impulse/Polaris
Components of the revolutionary carbon fiber aircraft as it is reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane in Mountain View, Calif.
Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype is being reassembled after arriving from Switzerland on board a Boeing 747 cargo plane in Mountain View, Calif.
The 12,000 solar cells integrated into the wing supply four electric motors with renewable energy and charge the 400kg lithium polymer batteries during the day, enabling the aircraft to fly at night.
The pilot Bertrand Piccard, initiator and President of the Solar Impulse project, will be flying over the San Francisco Bay area and pass over the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype makes its 3rd test flight from Moffett Field at the Ames Research Center of NASA after being reassembled.
Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype makes its 6th test flight from Moffett Airfield at the Ames Research Center of NASA after being reassembled.
Solar Impulse's HB-SIA prototype flies over the San Francisco Bay, April 23, 2013.
Solar Impulse' s HB-SIA prototype soars above the clouds over the San Francisco Bay, April 23, 2013.
Solar Impulse' s HB-SIA prototype flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, April 23, 2013.
Solar Impulse takes off on its final leg of its flight across the USA from Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., July 6, 2013.
Niels Ackermann—Solar Impulse/EPA
Solar Impulse, with Andre Borschberg onboard, approaches JFK airport on late July 6, 2013 in New York. The experimental Solar Impulse plane, powered by the sun, completed a transcontinental trip across the United States late Saturday, touching down in New York despite a rip in the fabric of one wing.
Jean Revillard—Solar Impulse/AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse lands at Kennedy airport. The solar-powered airplane of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg completed the final leg of the Across America campaign, flying from Dulles to New York's Kennedy airport.
A tear in the wing fabric of the Solar Impulse airplane following landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, July 6, 2013.
From left: Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg after Solar Impulse lands at JFK airport in New York on July 6, 2013. The airplane touched down in New York City late on Saturday, completing the final leg of an epic journey across the United States that began over two months ago.
Eric Thayer—Reuters
So how does this plane work?
It's a single-seater aircraft containing 17,000 solar cells built into a huge 72-meter wingspan — that's bigger than the 60-meter wingspan of the Boeing 747. (The Solar Impulse 2 also weights just 2,300 kg; the Boeing 747 has a maximum take-off weight of about 440,000 kg.)
Borschberg and another Swiss pilot, Bertrand Piccard, will take turns flying the plane during the roughly 10 legs around the world. They're supported by a 60-person support team tasked with anticipating every possible scenario to ensure the plane's proper function and safety.
What about nighttime?
During the day, the solar cells recharge the Solar Impulse 2's lithium batteries, allowing the plane to fly at night. That said, the plane does depend on appropriate weather to ensure there's enough sunlight for the solar cells to absorb.
Has anyone tried this before?
Yes — at least when it comes to building solar-powered aircraft. Back in the 1970s, an American alternative energy company called AstroFlight developed an unmanned experimental aircraft called the AstroFlight Sunrise. After four years of development, the Sunrise finally took off and flew over a military reservation in California, becoming the world's first aircraft to fly on solar power.
Will my ordinary commercial flight be solar-powered some day?
Probably not any time soon. The Solar Impulse 2's flight is made possible because the aircraft is so light. The technology isn't yet ready to power heavier, passenger-packed planes — even if your next commercial flight was totally covered with the world's most efficient solar panels, it still wouldn't be enough to propel the plane.
Where can I catch a glimpse of Solar Impulse 2?
If you live near one of several stops, you might just catch a glimpse of it at a nearby airport. It'll be tough, though: The plane only lands at night since winds tend to be lower, and it generally avoids periods when commercial flights are operating due to its long wingspan.